Antonio Rudiger makes feelings clear on Real Madrid’s transfer interest in Kai Havertz

Antonio Rudiger says that he’d welcome former Chelsea team-mate Kai Havertz to Real Madrid.

Havertz, 24, has been heavily linked with a big-money move to the Bernabeu after Real striker Karim Benzema recently made the surprise decision to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad. The Chelsea forward has endured three mixed seasons with the Blues, firstly winning the Champions League before losing his starting spot under multiple managers.

But Real could rescue him from his West London torment, with a £70million transfer mooted. Rudiger would certainly give him a warm reception in the Spanish capital, having just met back up with the ex- Bayer Leverkusen star while on international duty with Germany.

“I would be happy to play with Havertz again at club level,” Rudiger recently told AS. “Unfortunately, I cannot say much about it because, on the subject of transfers, my word is secondary. It’s the club’s decision.”

Havertz was linked with a move to Bayern Munich earlier this season in a deal which would’ve seen him reunite with another former Chelsea colleague, boss Thomas Tuchel. Even though Tuchel didn’t sign the 24-year-old, he did get the best out of Havertz at Stamford Bridge, although he’s still quite happy there.

“I still have a two-year contract, I don’t have to move every two to three years,” Havertz explained to German outlet SportBild’s Podcast Phrasenmaher, via Goal. “My girlfriend and I feel very comfortable in London. I love the club, the people and the fans. Football is very fast-paced, you never know what will happen. We’ll see what happens in the summer. I’m not thinking about that.”

The Germany international did, however, hint that he’d be open to a move abroad for a new challenge. “Bayern are generally a huge club that it’s hard to say no to as a German player, but my personal goal has always been to play abroad at some point,” Havertz noted. “In England or Spain.”

Real certainly want to sign at least one new forward, with Benzema’s departure rocking the Bernabeu and leaving Los Blancos light in attack. Tottenham striker Harry Kane is understood to be their first-choice target, although securing a deal with notoriously tight-fisted Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is likely to prove a difficult task.

Speaking after Benzema confirmed his shock exit, manager Carlo Ancelotti declared: “We’re looking for a striker who can score goals and link up well with the others. The profile of a striker bearing in mind that we have two youngsters up front who are starting to take more of a leading role.”

Ancelotti went on to say: “At the moment we only have two forwards, but I’m not worried at all because we have all the time we need to sort it out. You win games with and without forwards. Forwards are more likely to score, but it makes a difference when a team plays solidly, compactly, with effort and as a team.”