Chelsea are set to press on with contract talks with Antonio Rudiger amid fears he could leave on a free transfer.
That's according to the Daily Mail, who say Martina Granovskaia and Thomas Tuchel are not comfortable with the prospect of losing Rudiger for nothing in 2022 when his contract expires.
Despite featuring sparingly under Frank Lampard, the German centre-back has been key under Tuchel, starting nine of ten Premier League games since the new head coach's arrival.
Earlier in the season, Chelsea may not have been opposed to losing Rudiger in the summer of 2022, or perhaps even before then with the expiry of his contract drawing near, but things have very much changed.
Now a key part of Tuchel's plans, Chelsea have no intention of losing Rudiger and reports claim the Blues are worried about Euro 2020 serving as a potential platform for the defender.
Rudiger will likely represent Germany at the competition, and should he impress, it might drum up interest ahead of his contract expiring just one year later.
With that in mind, Chelsea are said to be pressing ahead with contract talks in a bid to tie up the 28-year-old on a longer term deal.
Rudiger has been with Chelsea since 2017 when he joined on a £30million deal from AS Roma, going on to make 93 Premier League appearances since.
The centre-back has been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge in the past, reportedly coming close to joining PSG on loan in the January transfer window, but Tuchel's arrivals was said to have changed that.
Tuchel does have plenty of options at centre-back with Kurt Zouma, Andres Christensen, Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta all able to play as part of the German's three centre-back system.
But behind Azpilicueta, Rudiger has played more than any other, suggesting he will remain one of Tuchel's preferred starters next season.
