If you’d have asked me, and many other Chelsea fans, whether Antonio Rudiger deserves to become Chelsea’s fourth highest earner at the club a couple of seasons ago, we’d have said no.
However, there isn’t one person out there right now who can argue that Rudiger is not a top 5 Chelsea player in terms of importance to this team at current under Thomas Tuchel.
Right now, Rudiger is on peanuts compared to most others in the squad. And even if he get’s his desired £200k-a-week he will still only be the fourth-highest earner in the club, which I think is totally fair.
As per Sportrac, here are Chelsea’s current top 5 highest earners:
Romelu Lukaku – £325k
N’Golo Kante – £290k
Timo Werner – £272k
Ben Chilwell – £190k
Kepa Arrizabalaga – £155k
He is one of the most senior players in the squad with the most influence, and for me you cannot buy that. Just look at the clubs that are coming calling for Rudiger if he doesn’t sign a new deal at Chelsea, pretty much every big club in the land wants him, and yes granted he won’t cost anything so that helps, but even still, he will be considered as one of the best defenders in world football based on current form, and not many can argue with that.
I don’t think Rudiger and his team asking for £200k is unreasonable for the calibre of player he is, I think it’s a fair ask despite it being double what he is currently earning.
Ben Chilwell is earning £190k-a-week at Chelsea, that’s £90k more than Rudiger currently. So I think when you really deep it that way then it isn’t a bad ask from Rudiger at all and Chelsea should absolutely pay that to keep him at the club.
Top class experienced centre backs do not grow on trees, and Rudiger is one of the best around right now. For the best players, you have to pay the money.
