Antonio Rudiger set to be one of the world’s highest paid defender with £400,000 weekly

Antonio Rudiger is on set to become one of the best paid defenders on the planet if he leaves Chelsea next summer.

Rudiger has emerged as a key man under Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, after he was frozen out by former coach Frank Lampard but his future at Stamford Bridge is uncertain as he enters the final six months of his contract.

Top European clubs are willing to more than triple his salary if he decides to leave Chelsea on a free transfer next summer, when he will be available for nothing.

From January 1, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus are among the teams ready to offer him the monstrous salary .

The 28-year-old currently earns in the region of £100,000-per-week at Chelsea.

Juventus centre-half Matthijs de Ligt is reportedly the best paid defender in the world, earning in the region of £400,000-per-week inclusive of all add-ons.

According to Sportsmail, Rudiger’s next deal, should he leave Chelsea, will approach de Ligt’s deal once all financial factors are included.

The fact Rudiger is available on a free transfer means interested clubs will use the money saved on a fee, with the German valued around £70million in the current market, to bolster the value of the player’s salary package in terms of basic wage, signing-on fee and other lucrative add-ons.