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Who is the Roma defender in talks with Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger?
As Chelsea continue to be linked with a host of top defenders from across Europe, claim that the Blues have begun talks with Roma over their central defender Antonio Rudiger.
Who is he?
A German international, currently in action in Russia in the Confederations Cup, Antonio Rudiger is a 24-year-old central defender who is also capable of filling in at right-back. Capped at every level since under-18s by his country, 6ft3in Rudiger wears the number two for his current club.
Where has he been?
Despite having made his name at Roma in Serie A, he only joined the club in the Italian capital two years ago. Rudiger began his career in his native Germany, playing for a number of Berlin clubs as a youth player before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2008 aged 15.
However, he never made the breakthrough into the first team and left for Stuttgart in 2011, making 22 appearances for their second team before establishing himself in the Bundesliga with 80 appearances for Stuttgart. He then moved to Italy in a £7.5 million deal in 2015.
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What’s his style of play?
Capable of playing anywhere across the back four, Rudiger is a reliable and consistent defender. Quick and strong, Rudiger rarely produces a bad performance and is known for his excellent reading of the game, intercepting passes that not even forwards knew were going to be made.
However, if there is a weakness to his game it is that he is often guilty of jumping into tackles and conceding needless fouls. That may not suit the disciplined style of Antonio Conte, but he would do well to learn from potential team-mate David Luiz who had similar traits.
What would his arrival mean for Chelsea?
Rudiger would add strength in depth to the Chelsea defence and would also bring some much needed youth. An ageing back line could do with the pace and movement of Rudiger, who is more than capable of keeping up with quick forwards and often powers them off the ball.
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