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CONTRACT rebel Antonio Rudiger claims he is fully focused on performing for Chelsea despite being a reported transfer target for Bayern Munich.

Rudiger, 28, is out of contract next summer and can agree a deal with foreign clubs from January.

Antonio Rudiger says he's focused on performing for Chelsea despite his deal expiring next summer
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Antonio Rudiger says he's focused on performing for Chelsea despite his deal expiring next summerCredit: Reuters

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is eager to tie his star defender down on fresh terms.

But an agreement is far from close, with the Blues unwilling to match Rudiger’s reported £200,000-a-week wage demands.

German giants Bayern Munich are now said to be circling, with Julian Nagelsmann apparently drawing up a mega-contract worth £400k each week.

Real Madrid are also known to be admirers, while free transfer specialists Juventus have also registered their interest.

But Rudiger refuses to be drawn on his future, insisting he is fully focused on helping Chelsea and Tuchel achieve their goals this season.

He told : “No [I am not thinking about the future]. I am concentrating on what is imminent.

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“I owe that to the club, the coach and the team. I’ve always said that Chelsea is my number one contact.

“I’m only focused on Chelsea at the moment. We’ll see what happens.”

Rudiger isn’t the only Blues defender out of contract next summer, with Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva all approaching the final six months of their deals.

Should Chelsea end up finding themselves losing up to FOUR of their six centre-backs, it’s claimed Roman Abramovich is ready to splash the cash on replacements in Juventus’ Matthijs de Ligt and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.

The Blues also have options closer to home, with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Levi Colwill and Xavier Mbuyamba already on the books.

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