Christensen nears new deal but fellow key defender still yet to agree terms

Chelsea’s defensive prowess

Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea have become mean, strong and hard to break down, as shown by the fact that they have so far conceded just a solitary goal this season. It is due to this that the Blues sit atop the Premier League table in its early form, despite tricky looking fixtures against Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool in their opening five games.

While their biggest test on the pitch is coming this weekend in the form of Premier League champions Manchester City, their off the pitch tests will rumble on all season with key players set to be out of contract this summer.

All of Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta are out of contract in just 10 months, prompting question marks about just how this situation has been allowed to happen. Both Rudiger and Azpilicueta have appeared in all five games for the Blues this campaign, while Christensen and Silva have played 4 and 3 respectively.

Evidently, then, they are all of huge importance to the current successful run, and all will surely be offered new contracts before next July. Indeed, one could be close to signing on with the Blues once more.

Christensen and Rudiger updates

As per the Sun, Christensen is close to penning a new deal with Tuchel’s side, that will see him earn around 120,000 pounds per week. As per the report, a new deal is “being rubber-stamped before an official announcement”.

The new deal will mark a sharp turnaround from the Danish defender, who was at one point thought to be surplus to requirements at the club under Frank Lampard.

Concerningly, however, there has been no advance on the contract of Antonio Rudiger, who this weekend was hailed as the best defender in the Premier League by former legend Rio Ferdinand.

Could the German defender depart for free next summer?