Chelsea submit bid to sign “the world’s best defender”

More precisely, the concern doesn’t lie with the club’s elite full-back options, but rather at centre-back, where players like Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah have struggled to impress.

It appears the club’s leadership shares this concern, as Chelsea have been linked with an international icon who could potentially replace both players by next season.

With the transfer window approaching, speculation continues to grow around Chelsea’s potential targets.

Names like the in-form Marcus Rashford and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton have been mentioned as possible arrivals in West London over the past week.

While both would undoubtedly strengthen Maresca’s squad, neither represents a clear upgrade on Tosin or Chalobah in the way Antonio Rüdiger would.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are interested in bringing back their former defender, who departed for Real Madrid in 2022.

The report also states that the Blues have already submitted an offer of around €8m, which equates to roughly £7m.

Although Los Blancos are open to letting the German leave as early as January, they rejected the bid, considering it too low.

Fortunately, with the 32-year-old’s contract set to expire in the summer, there’s a strong possibility the two clubs could reach a reasonable agreement.

It would be an unexpected move, but one Chelsea should pursue — even if Rüdiger’s return would likely spell trouble for Tosin and Chalobah.

To be clear, neither Tosin nor Chalobah is a poor defender. Both are capable Premier League players with solid experience.

However, while that might make them ideal for clubs like Fulham, Crystal Palace, or even Everton, it doesn’t quite meet the standard required to start regularly for a club of Chelsea’s stature.

At Chelsea, every error, misplaced pass, or lapse in focus is magnified and can prove costly in the pursuit of silverware.

That’s why Maresca needs someone like Rüdiger — a seasoned centre-back who has experienced success at the highest level.

During his previous stint in West London, for instance, he started ten of the club’s twelve matches en route to their Champions League triumph in 20/21, and was equally crucial in their FA Cup win a few years earlier.

Since then, he’s added another Champions League title, a La Liga title, and a Copa Del Rey to his résumé, and has even been described as the best defender in the world by former teammate Mesut Özil.

Though his appearances this season have been limited due to injury, he still featured in 55 matches across all competitions last year, logging 4539 minutes.

The Berlin-born defender remains a key figure for his national team, with 81 senior caps, three goals, and five assists to his name.

Another compelling reason to bring him back is his potential as a mentor to Levi Colwill and Josh Acheampong.

In essence, the former Chelsea standout could return to help shape the club’s next great centre-back pairing.

If Rüdiger does make his way back to Stamford Bridge in January, it would be a major boost for Chelsea — but likely the end of regular minutes for Chalobah and Tosin.