No Chelsea transfer in January for German defender, next summer is ‘another story altogether’

 

Antonio Rüdiger will not be joining Chelsea during the January transfer window.

That is, at least, what Gazzetta dello Sport are reporting on Friday, claiming this to be from the player himself.

A target of Antonio Conte’s in the summer, the German defender was unlucky to suffer a severe knee injury just ahead of the 2016 Euros in France, keeping him out of the competition and making him miss a chunk of this season.

This absence and lack of game time is one of the reasons Rüdiger doesn’t want to move in January, as he would like to complete an entire season under Luciano Spalletti at Roma.

Furthermore, he knows his current club cannot afford to lose another defender, with injuries plaguing their backline since the start of the season.

Now back in the team, the young centre-back will undoubtedly be monitored throughout the season by Chelsea, whose back three requires a lot of depth in the position.

Considering John Terry isn’t going to be around Stamford Bridge forever, a replacement might be needed further down the line, and next summer ‘is another story altogether’, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.