Tuchel: 'We want him to stay, he knows it' as Rudiger eyes Chelsea exit

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has sent a clear message about defender Antonio Rudiger, insisting "we want him to stay, this is very clear. He knows it."

The Germany international's contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning he can begin to negotiate with other clubs over a free transfer from 1st January next year.

"For me he's a big competitor and he's in exactly the right spot... let's be a bit patient and hopefully we'll have a happy ending in the end," said Tuchel.

Among the contenders interested in signing Rudiger are Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

Rudiger scored alongside N'Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic on Saturday as Chelsea won 3-0 at Leicester to earn a ninth Premier League win of the season.

After failing to thrive under previous Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, Rudiger has undergone a transformation under Tuchel.

He has played more minutes than any other Blues player this season and only Kai Havertz has made more appearances.