Chelsea in Antonio Rudiger talks

Chelsea are reportedly close to securing a deal for Antonio Rudiger after his agent was spotted holding talks with the Blues' hierarchy. AS Roma recently confirmed the permanent signing of the German defender.

Rudiger joined AS Roma on loan from Stuttgart last summer, and played a key role in their quest to attain Champions League qualification.

The Giallorossi have since followed to secure a permanent deal for the player in a deal worth £7m.

Italian publication Repubblica claims that the player's representative had visited the English capital on Monday to hold crunch negotiations with Blues officials including dealmaker Marina Granovskaia.

It is added that the Italian giants are holding out for a £20m sum, but the Blues are seemingly confident of negotiating a fee of around £16m for the highly-rated cetre-back.

Rudiger has been named in Joachim Loew's German squad for the upcoming European championships in France.