The future of Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger is one of the hottest transfer topics in London with the German's contract currently set to expire in the summer.
The 28-year-old has become an immensely popular figure at Stamford Bridge since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, playing a huge part in the Blues' Champions League success and current rise to the top of the Premier League.
But still a new contract cannot be negotiated and, with Rudiger able to negotiate pre-contract agreements with other clubs in January, concerns are starting to grow.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich both pose a threat from overseas but there is another one growing closer to home, with Tottenham's interest in signing the defender becoming stronger and stronger.
Journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones recently told Give Me Sport that Conte is 'really serious' about bringing the defender to north London.
But it is not the first time that Rudiger has been linked with a move to Spurs, with the Germany international admitting in March that he had even held talks with Jose Mourinho following Frank Lampard's first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.
The German played regularly in Lampard's opening campaign but after dropping out of the side at the start of the 2020-21 season, there was a chance he would leave before the end of the summer window.
"I was close (to leaving)," Rudiger told a pre-match press conference in March. "There were really like two teams, maybe one team I was considering, that was PSG to be honest
""There was (a) call also with Mourinho, but this is something at the end of the day that didn't happen, and with Tuchel also, (but it) didn't happen.
"I was upset of course because I knew my situation and wouldn't play that often."
The pull of Conte should not be underestimated either when it comes to deciding Rudiger's future.
The two had their differences at Chelsea but after the Italian brought him to Stamford Bridge, Rudiger was glowing in his praise for his new boss.
“For me the Premier League is the most challenging league in the world and Chelsea with Antonio Conte and his style of defending will be the next step forward for me," he tweeted at the time.
In 2018 he also described Conte as a "very, very good coach" while being interviewed on international duty with Germany.
