Antonio Rudiger to leave Chelsea in summer after failing to agree new contract

Antonio Rudiger is set to leave the club this summer after failing to agree on a new contract.

A new contract worth more than $200,000 a week would have made him the best-paid defender in the history of the club.

The stumbling block is the signing-on and agent's fees.

Real Madrid has been linked with a move to the Germany international.

The news will be a blow to manager Thomas Tuchel, who had hoped to keep the player at the club.

Like Rudiger, who joined the Blues for an initial 30 million from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, the Denmark international will be allowed to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, with Barcelona agreeing a deal to sign the 26-year-old.

Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last month before being sanctioned by the UK government.

A preferred bidder is expected to be selected this week in the attempt to buy the club from the Russian billionaire.

It is believed that the contract offer to Rudiger was made weeks before the sanctions took effect and that the club will have to wait until the end of May for a licence.