"Seriously interested": Transfer insider drops big update on CFC star "keeping his options open"

Chelsea central defender Antonio Rudiger is wanted by Barcelona and the Spanish giants are mulling over whether to take advantage of his current contract situation, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Rudiger has less than five months remaining on his current £100,000-per-week deal and, as a result, can pen a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club ahead of a free transfer in the summer.

Rudiger has featured for Chelsea 180 times since his £33.3million move from Roma, but it appears his days at Stamford Bridge may be numbered.

The German stalled over the west Londoners’ £140,000-per-week proposal in September and, according to Spanish media outlet Marca, Rudiger is seeking a new deal worth in excess of £46million.

Chelsea have failed to meet those demands and Barcelona are understood to be monitoring Rudiger’s contract situation even though the centre-half is in no rush to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club.

Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid – along with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus – have already opened talks with the Chelsea man.

It is not a foregone conclusion that the 49-cap Germany international will leave the Blues as Rudiger has revealed his representatives remain in talks with the Chelsea hierarchy and his family are loving life in London.

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Jones understands Barcelona are deliberating over whether to make a move for Rudiger due to his long-term future still being up in the air.

The transfer insider is aware the 28-year-old already has attractive offers on the table from overseas clubs.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Barcelona are looking like they might be seriously interested in putting forward an offer