Rudiger expected to depart Chelsea this summer

After failing to reach an agreement on a new contract, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is expected to leave the club this summer.

Rudiger, 29, was offered a new deal earning more than £200,000 per week, making him Chelsea’s highest-paid defender ever.

The signing-on and agent’s fees, according to a foreign sports website, have proven to be the stumbling block.

Real Madrid has been linked with a deal for the Germany international.

The news will come as a disappointment to Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who had hoped to keep Rudiger and may potentially lose center-back Andreas Christensen this summer.

The Denmark international’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he will be allowed to depart on a free transfer, with Barcelona agreeing to sign him.

Rudiger joined the Blues for an initial £29 million from Roma in 2017.

Since owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last month before being sanctioned by the UK government, Chelsea’s financial condition has been shaky.

Three buyers are attempting to acquire the club for more than £2.5 billion from the Russian oligarch, with the goal of selecting a preferred bidder this week.

However, it is believed that the contract offer to Rudiger was made weeks before the fines were imposed, putting player contract negotiations on hold until the end of May, when the government is anticipated to grant the club a special license.