Chelsea supporters on social media had a bad feeling about Antonio Rudiger’s contract situation following a recent transfer report.
According to CNN Turk, the Blues have come to an agreement with Fenerbahce to sign their Hungarian defender, Attila Szalai.
Szalai will reportedly join the Champions League holders on a six-year deal, with the initial fee standing at €23.4m. The 23-year-old often plays on the left side of a back three for both his club and country.
This is an area Chelsea will need to strengthen if Rudiger runs out his Stamford Bridge contract. To the despair of many Blues fans, they believed Szalai’s potential arrival into South West London would signal the end of Rudiger in West London.
Here’s how they reacted on Twitter:
This means Rudi is gone in January 😭 — Mexicavince (@Mexicavince1) November 11, 2021 Wait, what? So, Rudi is going? — Ludwig Deiter 🌟🌟 (@__TheDaniel) November 11, 2021 Looks like rudiger is leaving in January — Skarra24 (@Skarra24o) November 11, 2021 He’s gonna replace Rudiger isn’t he pic.twitter.com/WgIkkpT5on — Muk (@CFC_Muk) November 11, 2021 Rudiger replacement — Anthony🗣️ (@CFCAnthonyy) November 11, 2021 Well that pretty much confirms rudiger and/or Christensen are leaving. — Archie Wallace (@CFC__Archie) November 11, 2021 Rüdiger is gone then? 🙁 — Corñ (@Corn_CFC) November 11, 2021 Looks like rudigers gone then https://t.co/ieGBHInIdy — Rudra (@rudra_cfc) November 11, 2021
At the moment, there has been no official confirmation of the Szalai deal or Rudiger’s exit.
But the longer the latter’s situation is not resolved, the more likely the former is to become the solution. It would certainly be difficult for any new player to fill Rudiger’s rather sizeable shoes.
He has become one of Chelsea’s most treasured possessions, owed largely to the implementation of Thomas Tuchel last season.
A hugely popular figure in the dressing room and amongst the home crowd, his presence would be sorely missed. But there will come a time where the Blues must learn to live without Rudiger, whether that be next year or the ones to follow.
