Barcelona appear to be making a serious push for Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.
The centre-back’s agent and half-brother Sahr Senesie was spotted by Germany’s Sky Sport reportedly conducting a meeting with Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany and advisor Jordi Cruyff at a five-star hotel in Barcelona on Wednesday night.
Sky Sport report that the meeting lasted for three hours as Barca try to jump to the front of the queue in the crowded race for Rudiger’s signature.
The 29-year-old remains a key figure for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, but his future is still subject to significant doubt with his contract due to expire this summer and negotiations over a lucrative extension brought to a halt following the Government sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich that threw the club into turmoil.
Rudiger has been free to negotiate pre-contract terms with overseas suitors since January, with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also said to be interested in a deal.
🚨Exclusive #Rüdiger: Secret negotiations in Barcelona! On Wednesday night Alemany, Cruyff & ARs agent Senesie met in the hotel „The Barcelona Edition“. The appointment went three hours. Barca wants Rüdiger as a free agent! @SkySports @Sky_Marc #CFC pic.twitter.com/6VNAhvSm62
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) March 31, 2022
Earlier in March, reports from Italy claimed that Juventus had clinched an agreement with the German international.
However, Barca - resurgent under the management of club icon Xavi - now seem to be actively trying to scupper the Serie A giants and add to the haul of Chelsea defenders potentially coming their way at the end of the season.
Like Rudiger, Andreas Christensen is out of contract at the end of the season and Barca president Joan Laporta has all but confirmed the Dane’s imminent signing along with that of Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie from AC Milan.
Meanwhile, veteran Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is also widely expected to head to Barcelona once his own Blues contract runs down in June.
