A fresh insight into the efforts of European champions Chelsea to tie star defender Antonio Rudiger down to a new contract has been provided on Friday evening.

The info comes courtesy of the reliable Sami Mokbel of The Daily Mail, who has confirmed that the board at Stamford Bridge have in fact tabled a fresh proposal to the German.

The offer in question is understood to have come in close to the £200,000-per-week mark.

Rudiger, however, knocked the proposal back, having made it clear to those in a position of power at Chelsea that his demands have not yet been met.

Significantly, it is added that the lines of communication remain very much open between the two parties, with the Blues ‘optimistic’ that they will ultimately convince Rudiger to commit his long-term future to the club.

As the months pass, and the German inches ever-closer to seeing his terms in west London expire, though, fears will no doubt continue to spread across the Chelsea fanbase that their side could yet head into the 2022/23 campaign bereft of a key member of the club’s backline, and recent success as a whole.

Plymouth lie in wait

Turning attentions back towards matters on the pitch, Chelsea are set to focus their efforts on matters in the FA Cup this weekend.

On the back of a two-week winter break, the Blues will kick their campaign back into gear in a meeting with League One outfit Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon.

Tuchel’s troops will of course head into proceedings as overwhelming favourites to book their spot in the FA Cup’s 5th-round, with the club’s sights no doubt firmly set on going one better this time round, after being downed by Leicester City in the competition’s finale in 2020/21.

 

Chelsea vs Plymouth betting tips: Preview, predictions & odds

Tuchel provides concerning Reece James injury update ahead of Chelsea vs Plymouth