Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has made an audacious attempt to bring Antonio Rudiger back to Stamford Bridge, according to OK Diario.

The Spanish website claims that Pochettino “tried” to persuade the German international into returning to London, just a year after leaving the Blues on a free transfer.

Rudiger turned down offers to renew his contract with Chelsea before deciding to join Spanish giants Real Madrid last July, and he was a regular starter for the La Liga club last season.

With the centre-half happy to stay in Spain, OK Diario report that the player “rejected” Pochettino’s approach. Even though he does cherish his five years with the Blues, he is now very much committed to Real.

Chelsea would love to have someone of Rudiger’s experience still at the club

While things haven’t been plain sailing for the 30-year-old in Spain, he did put in a top-drawer performance against Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. He managed to keep Erling Haaland quiet, which is no mean feat, leading pundit Rio Ferdinand to say:

“He was excellent and clever as well at times. He made one great block in the second half. I think you’ve got to be aggressive with Haaland. I still don’t think they nullified him completely but I thought today that’s the best I’ve seen a centre-back pairing play him.”

Considering Chelsea were pretty poor defensively last campaign, they could do with having someone like Rudiger at the back.

Pochettino will have to rely on other options

It has to be said, though, that the Blues are not exactly short of talented centre-backs anyway. In addition to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, they have Levi Colwill who has returned from his loan spell at Brighton.

While he may not be at Rudiger’s level quite yet, there is no doubt that the 20-year-old has massive potential, and he could strike up a great partnership with Thiago Silva next season.