Tuchel confirms this Germany international will leave Chelsea in the summer

The Blues manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Germany international and defender Antonio Rudiger will leave the club at the end of this season.

This comes as every opportunity for the Blues to extend Rudiger’s contract was turned down as he is determined to leave in the summer transfer window when his current contract lapse.

Rudiger has been linked with moves to Man Utd and Real Madrid, but the Spanish club seems to be the favourite.

Speaking to Sky Sports after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday, Tuchel confirmed: “The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk.

“We gave everything, but we could not fight anymore because of the actions.

“We don’t take it personally. It is his decision.

“He is a key figure and will stay that way until the end of the season. But it is disappointing. We will miss him a lot. He gives courage in the dressing room. The kind everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level. He is a top defender in the last one-and-a-half years for me. We then need to find another solution.”