Spursex
Alert Team
Germany manager Joachim Low has revealed Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger 'tried everything' to leave the club this summer.
The 27-year-old defender has fallen out of favour under manager Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge and was linked with a move away before Monday's transfer deadline, with Tottenham, Roma and AC Milan all showing an interest.
A move did not come off and Rudiger remains a Chelsea player but his international boss has conceded he will look to depart again in January with the rescheduled Euros on the horizon., it's since been disclosed by his agent that Spurs were his preferred destination and came closest to signing him.
'I was in constant contact with Toni Rudiger, he was keeping me in the loop,' Low said. 'He had three or four options over the weekend but unfortunately, nothing materialised – he can try again in the winter.
'He can put in a great performance even without a few weeks of match practice. I've been walking the path with him over the past few years and we've had a dialogue since the very beginning. His development over the past four or five years has been great.
'He has established himself as a top international player. In terms of athleticism, dynamism and tough duels, he maintains his top level for a few weeks even without match practice.
'He tried everything to leave Chelsea because the European Championship is very important to him. I think he'll try to leave again in the winter. He's doing everything he can to stay in his best form.'
The 27-year-old defender has fallen out of favour under manager Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge and was linked with a move away before Monday's transfer deadline, with Tottenham, Roma and AC Milan all showing an interest.
A move did not come off and Rudiger remains a Chelsea player but his international boss has conceded he will look to depart again in January with the rescheduled Euros on the horizon., it's since been disclosed by his agent that Spurs were his preferred destination and came closest to signing him.
'I was in constant contact with Toni Rudiger, he was keeping me in the loop,' Low said. 'He had three or four options over the weekend but unfortunately, nothing materialised – he can try again in the winter.
'He can put in a great performance even without a few weeks of match practice. I've been walking the path with him over the past few years and we've had a dialogue since the very beginning. His development over the past four or five years has been great.
'He has established himself as a top international player. In terms of athleticism, dynamism and tough duels, he maintains his top level for a few weeks even without match practice.
'He tried everything to leave Chelsea because the European Championship is very important to him. I think he'll try to leave again in the winter. He's doing everything he can to stay in his best form.'
