At last, Barcelona ready to bring Chelsea’s top defender to Camp Nou

Chelsea formidable defender Antonio Rudiger will be out of contract at Stamford Bridge this summer and the former Roma defender is currently unable to renew his contract due to government sanctions on the embattled owner Roman Abramovich.

National Daily meanwhile now understands that Rudiger’s half-brother and adviser, Sahr Senesie, has met with Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany and his deputy Jordi Cruyff for secret negotiations over the 29-year-old transfer in a restaurant in Barcelona.

The meeting lasted for three hours in which they sat together drinking wine and water, discussing a potential move for Rudiger to Barca in the summer.

The Spanish giants are ready to go full throttle to sign the defender on a free transfer as he fits exactly into the requirement profile of the Catalans National Daily learnt.

Rudiger’s current contract expires in the summer so he can talk to clubs outside of England with his representatives also remaining in dialogue with other top European clubs, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Negotiations with Chelsea on a contract extension have stalled for over nine months, but staying at Chelsea has not been ruled out with much depending on the resolution of the ownership of the club.

Currently, Chelsea are sadly unable to act due to sanctions against Russian owner Roman Abramovich.