Some Chelsea players are ‘gutted’ that Antonio Rudiger is leaving on a free and he may not be the only key player to leave the club this summer, according to reports.
Thomas Tuchel confirmed last month that the defender would be leaving Stamford Bridge when his contract expires, with the German star expected to join Real Madrid.
According to The Sun, there are growing fears around the London club that N’Golo Kante and Jorginho could also seek moves once the campaign is over.
That duo are about to enter the last year of their contracts and renewal talks have been prevented due to the restrictions imposed on the club after Roman Abramovich was sanctioned.
Jorginho in particular has expressed a desire to return to Italy and his teammates fear he will push for the exit this summer which could have a domino effect.
That duo, and a number of other senior players at the club, are believed to be dismayed by the exit of Rudiger and feel the situation was completely mishandled by the club.
The players are not buying the explanations from Chelsea that they were prevented from offering improved terms and feel his future should have been tied down a long time ago.
The Blues' hierarchy initially balked at Rudiger’s contract demands, with the 29-year-old having wanted a salary that reflected his status as one of their most important players.
They eventually made an offer worth around £230,000-a-week, but even that is below what he will receive from Real Madrid.
