Bayern Munich have “contacted” Antonio Rudiger’s brother and agent Sahr Senesie to register their interest in the Chelsea centre-back, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk.
The 28-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, and there is reportedly a sizeable difference between the player’s wage demands and what the Blues are prepared to offer him. However, Falk still feels an agreement over a new deal is more likely than the centre-back joining Bayern:
TRUE ✅ @FCBayern contacted Sahr Senesie, Agent and Brother, of @ToniRuediger. The Club is interested in the german defender. But: the tendency is a new contract at @ChelseaFC #EnglischeWoche @BILD_Sport @ValentinaMaceri pic.twitter.com/HTtzZNC26F
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) September 22, 2021
Last week, Falk claimed that Rudiger was asking to be paid around €11m a season before tax, which translates to approximately £182,000 a week based on the current exchange rate; a sizeable but not unreasonable salary rise, considering his importance to manager Thomas Tuchel.
It does seem as though there is now more optimism that a deal can be struck, but there are a fair few teams circling waiting to see what happens. Along with Bayern, it is believed the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Tottenham are all keen on snapping Rudiger up on a free transfer next year.