Exclusive - Chelsea's 2021/22 season may be going according to plan on the pitch, but 90min understands the club are facing up to the prospect of losing three key defenders ahead of next season - unless they can persuade Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, as well as captain Cesar Azpilicueta, to sign new contracts.
Christensen, who has just eight months remaining on his current deal, has been unable to agree a new contract at Stamford Bridge, following a standout 12 months that's seen his reputation and standing in the game considerably improve.
It's a similar situation for Rudiger who 90min confirmed in September was nowhere near agreeing a new deal at Chelsea, and to even consider staying he wanted to become one of their highest paid players.
That stance has not wavered and Chelsea are now faced with an even bigger problem - Rudiger is wanted by virtually every major club in Europe.
Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich and Tottenham were already circling - making it clear they would be prepared to make him one of the highest paid defenders in the world - but there is also strong interest from Premier League champions Manchester City; a club more than capable of paying enormously high wages.
