Rudiger contract situation leaves Chelsea facing fight to keep Germany star

Chelsea face a fight to keep Antonio Rudiger at Stamford Bridge following their Champions League triumph.

The Blues are up against interest from Europe's top clubs with just one year left on the influential Germany defender's contract.

Chelsea passed up the chance to open talks with 28-year-old Rudiger last October and - remarkably - have still yet to offer him a new deal.

Although he has suggested conversations could take place after the Euros, Chelsea have yet to make any move to accelerate the process.

Back in October the club's chief negotiator, Marina Granovskaia, overruled Frank Lampard who had frozen Rudiger out of his team and only allowed him back into the fold towards the end of his reign.

Both Spurs and Paris Saint Germain had been keen to sign him with ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho - Spurs boss at the time - particularly interested.

But Rudiger remained at Stamford Bridge to become a key player in the club's resurgence under Thomas Tuchel, helping them into the top four.

He has been on the losing side just twice in 25 appearances since Tuchel's first game, a 0-0 draw against Wolves on January 27.

During that sequence, Chelsea kept 17 clean sheets in all competitions.

Rudiger who adds Saturday's Champions League success to his Europa League win two years ago, is free to speak to Europe's leading clubs in January.

But Chelsea do not want to lose his influence in the dressing room where he remains an inspirational figure. Nor do they want to lose his leadership and ability to read the game on the field.

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Chelsea have a higher win rate and average more points per game when the Germany international is in the starting line-up.

The Blues have also conceded just four goals in this season's Champions League along with beaten finalists Manchester City.

It is the first time both finalists have conceded four or fewer goals on their way to the showdown since the 2005-6 season.

Meanwhile, Rudiger has apologised to Kevin De Bruyne for the incident which left the Manchester City star with a broken nose in Saturday's final.

Writing to his nearly 800,000 followers on Twitter, he said: "I'm really sorry for Kevin de Buryne's injury. Of course this was not intentional from me.

"I've already been in touch with Kevin personally and I really wish him a speedy recovery and hope we can see him back on the pitch very soon again."