Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel remains confident of keeping Antonio Rudiger at the club , despite fresh interest from Barcelona.

Earlier this week, reports emerged that the Germany international’s representatives had met with Barcelona officials regarding a potential switch on a free transfer.

The latest development comes at a time when Chelsea are unable to hold contract discussions with players who are due to become free agents at the end of the season, a result of sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich.

Nevertheless, when quizzed on the situation on Friday, Tuchel says that he remains hopeful of retaining the services of his most frequently-used player in the long term.

“I would be trying to meet him if I was at any other club. Still he is our player and I still think that we have a good chance that he stays our player once things are solved for us,”Tuchel told a press conference.

“The situation is the situation. At the moment, our hands are tied, we cannot speak with him or renegotiate with him and his agent, so fair enough that he listens to other offers, but I am still confident.”

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