5 players who can replace Antonio Rudiger at Chelsea

No Chelsea fan wants to see Antonio Rudiger leave, but with his contract ending by the end of the season - and negotiations for an extension at an impasse - the only realistic resolution might be searching for the center-back's replacement.

According to reports, Chelsea remain keen on extending Rudiger's contract, but his wage expectations (£140,000 a week) have stalled any potential breakthrough.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, clubs like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are watching with keen interest. Bayern Munich have shown more open interest in Rudiger, especially with manager Julian Nagelsmann stating, "I'll have to see when the contract expires, and then I'll see if I still have money in my wallet."

The 28-year-old German international already has several suitors who will agree to his wage demands, but so far, he has kept all his cards close to his chest. Stating that this was the most important decision of his professional career, Rudiger has explained that he won't be rushing into anything. While he might end up renewing his stay at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have to make a decision in the event that he doesn't.

To that end, let's take a look at five quality center-backs who could ultimately replace Antonio Rudiger at Chelsea.

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#5 Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain

RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain F.C - UEFA Champions League Semi Final

During Thomas Tuchel's two years at the helm of Paris Saint-Germain, he worked with the defensive partnership of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva. While the Parisian giants are unlikely to let Marquinhos leave, it won't stop Chelsea from trying to reunite the PSG star with both his former center-half partner and his manager.

Notably, the Parisian club reportedly snubbed an £86 million offer for Marquinhos from the Blues during the last transfer window. However, if the 27-year-old Brazilian international is interested in sealing a big-money move to the Premier League, Stamford Bridge could be his next destination.

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#4 Maxence Lacroix | Wolfsburg

Preußen Münster v VfL Wolfsburg - DFB Cup: First Round

According to reports, Thomas Tuchel had his sights set on swooping one of the most attractive prospects in European football: Maxence Lacroix. The pacey center-back was brilliant for Wolfsburg during his debut season, making 30 Bundesliga appearances and contributing directly to two goals. Lacroix, only 21 years old, would be the perfect long-term replacement for Rudiger, and Tuchel is reportedly a big fan of the youngster.

Lacroix recently extended his contract with Wolfsburg, having made nine appearances this season, but that would hardly deter the Blues. If he continues to perform consistently in the Bundesliga, Chelsea may be hard-pressed to make a large bid to lure the youngster to Stamford Bridge.

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#3 Alessandro Bastoni | Inter Milan

FC Internazionale v Bologna FC - Serie A

According to reports in Italy, Chelsea marksman Romelu Lukaku has recommended his former teammates Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar to management at Stamford Bridge. While it is unlikely that the Blues will snatch both center-backs from the reigning Italian champions, they will be hard-pressed not to make a choice.

Last season, Inter lost only three Serie A games and conceded just 35 goals in 38 games. The Italian giants also had the best defensive record in the league, which was largely due to the defensive brilliance between Skriniar and Bastoni. With Chelsea's large pockets, there should be no issues gunning for 22-year-old Alessandro Bastoni as a longer-term replacement for Rudiger, rather than Skriniar, who is 26.

The young Italian international is clearly capable of holding his own at the very highest level and he will have no problems adapting to life at Stamford Bridge. However, it may take a large bid for the Nerazzurri to bend to Chelsea's will during the January transfer window.

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#2 Niklas Sule | Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid v FC Bayern Muenchen: Group A - UEFA Champions League

With Bayern keeping an eye on Antonio Rudiger's exit from Stamford Bridge, it's rather ironic that Chelsea have their eye on Niklas Sule's exit from the Allianz Arena. Both clubs seem to be in the same predicament, with their respective center-backs in no hurry to renew or extend their contracts. With Sule potentially leaving the Bundesliga champions at the end of his contract, this might be Thomas Tuchel's most affordable route to replacing Rudiger.

Once January arrives, Sule will officially be allowed to speak and sign pre-contract agreements with any club of his choice. However, the German international has been a consistent rock at the heart of Bayern's defense and Julian Nagelsmann hardly wants to let him leave, especially on a free transfer.

With more top players like Lionel Messi and Gianluigi Donnarumma seeing out their contracts and leaving for free, Sule could potentially move to Stamford Bridge by next season.

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#1 Jules Kounde | Sevilla

Portugal v France - UEFA Euro 2020: Group F

One of the most reported events during the summer transfer window was Jules Kounde's potential move from Sevilla to Chelsea. Although Thomas Tuchel pushed hard to land the 22-year-old, the Blues were unable to reach an agreement with the Spanish side. According to reports, Sevilla raised their asking price by an extra £12.8 million as the transfer window drew to a close. However, this won't stop Chelsea from following up on their main target in the months leading up to the winter transfer window.

Reports indicate that Kounde was upset with the result of those negotiations, and the French international may still want to move to Chelsea if another bid materializes from the higher-ups at Stamford Bridge. Kounde is currently focused on performing well for Sevilla, and these good performances will only keep Chelsea very interested in the top-rated star.