Chelsea's three £144m transfer solutions as Thomas Tuchel seeks Antonio Rudiger's replacement

It’s official, Chelsea fan’s worst nightmare for this season has come true. Antonio Rudiger will be leaving Chelsea. Rudiger joins Andreas Christensen as the latest player to confirm his exit at the end of the season. I guess all I can say is, how on earth did we get here?

This feels like a break-up that will potentially take a year to get over. It could take years to mend the damage that his absence will cause our backline. As much as I would have liked for the German international to stay, I have to face the music.

Chelsea will have to look for a replacement, and three necessary transfer options should be considered immediately.

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Thomas Tuchel told Sky Sports: "The situation is that he [Rudiger] wants to leave the club. He informed me of this is in a private talk. We gave everything - me and the club - but we could not fight anymore because of the actions.

"Without the sanctions, we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don't take it personally. It is his decision."

Everyone has a say on who could fill his shoes, but the answer is, well, nobody. He is a presence in the dressing room that simply cannot be replaced overnight. The football world isn't filled with Thiago Silva's that are available upon request. But here are three options that would soften the blow.

Inter Milan's promising 23-year-old Alessandro Bastoni is an undercover treasure. The left-footed centre-back is an easy fix. His contract will expire in 2024, so the Blues should keep a stern eye on his situation at Inter Milan before other clubs get involved. Tottenham and Antonio Conte have named Bastoni as an eye-catching option