Antonio Rüdiger to leave Chelsea with Real Madrid favourites to sign him

Antonio Rüdiger will leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season, with Real Madrid leading the race to sign the centre-back on a free transfer.

Chelsea made an unsuccessful attempt to tie Rüdiger down before the sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich left the club unable to hand out contracts or sign new players. The Stamford Bridge club’s offer was worth more than £200,000 a week but the Germany international turned it down and is expected to make a decision on his next move soon.

The prospect of Rüdiger leaving will be a major blow for Thomas Tuchel, who is already set to lose Andreas Christensen on a free transfer. Christensen is also out of contract and the Denmark centre-back is poised to join Barcelona at the end of the season.

The situation is likely to force Chelsea’s next owners to spend heavily on Tuchel’s defence this summer. The European champions were keen to keep Rüdiger, who has been one of their best performers this season, and have made several attempts to keep him. However, it has not been possible to agree fresh terms with the 29-year-old, who earns in the region of £90,000 a week, and Chelsea’s inability to act now has convinced Rüdiger to seek offers from elsewhere.

The former Roma defender has been able to talk to foreign clubs about a pre-contract agreement since 1 January. Rüdiger’s representatives have held talks with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, but Madrid are believed to be favourites. Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti is a fan of Rüdiger and has asked the Spanish club’s hierarchy to sign him.

Manchester United are also thought to be monitoring the situation.

Rüdiger, who will be absent with a groin injury when Chelsea host West Ham tomorrow