By Wayne Veysey

18th Dec, 2021 | 8:00am

Tottenham sources: Paratici in regular contact over blockbuster Rudiger deal as Levy willing to pay 'huge' to get deal done

Tottenham are pushing hard to lure contract rebel Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea after making contact over a potential deal, Football Insider has learned.

The north Londoners have emerged as key players in the race to sign Rudiger after he was left fuming by the Blues offering him a new contract less than Mason Mount’s.

A Tottenham source has told Football Insider that managing director Fabio Paratici is in contact with the defender’s camp amid elite-club interest going into the new year.

Paratici is said to be trying to force an agreement in January ahead of the centre-back joining next summer.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is willing to pay “huge” wages to win the race for Rudiger as there would be no transfer fee involved.

Rudiger is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season and can leave as a free agent.

He can agree a pre-contract with overseas and cross-border clubs from 1 January.

This is why Paratici is trying to strike an agreement now, and fend off the likes of Bayern Munich, who have been strongly linked with the Germany international.

Rudiger is on the radar of many top clubs due to his contract stand-off with Chelsea and his outstanding form this term.

He is said to be privately adamant he will now leave Chelsea when his agreement expires after being offered an extension that’s less than he hoped.

The priority of Paratici and manager Antonio Conte is to sign at least one elite centre-back in January.

Spurs are also keeping tabs on the likes of Stefan de Vrij and Matthijs de Ligt but they are both playing regularly for their clubs Inter Milan and Juventus.

In other news, Tottenham tipped to launch “complaint” after “ridiculous” development in the last 24 hours.