ANTONIO RUDIGER is on the verge of joining Real Madrid, according to reports.
The German is set to be out of contract at Chelsea in the summer.
Rudiger, 28, will be eligible to sign a pre-contract with a new club in January 1.
And according to the Independent, Madrid are leading the way.
They claim that the LaLiga giants have reached an ‘informal agreement’ with the defender.
Rudiger is represented by his brother, Sahr Senesie.
Former Borussia Dortmund attacker Senesie apparently met with Madrid in November.
He is understood to have reached an agreement with Florentino Perez and Co.
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But nothing has yet been signed.
Senesie also reportedly met with Bayern Munich last week, with the German champions also very interested in signing Rudiger.
Chelsea want to keep their No2 and have tabled an offer.
But it is believed that they have not offered as lucrative a deal as Real Madrid or Bayern.
Tottenham and Manchester United are also keen.
But Rudiger would rather not join another Premier League club.
On the situation, boss Thomas Tuchel said last month: “He (Rudiger) has been outstanding from day one and is getting better and better at a very high level.
“The situation is the situation. We want him to stay, this is very clear and he knows it.
“But sometimes in these situations, there is a certain delay and, obviously, there is a delay in these talks and his decision.
“It can happen these days but it does not affect his mentality, it doesn’t affect his quality, it doesn’t affect his behaviour.
“He is fully committed to Chelsea right now and I am absolutely sure he feels the trust, respect and love from the club and spectators.”
Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva are also set to be out of contract in the summer.
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