Chelsea have financial edge over Wolfsburg for young center back's signature

It looks like we're coming closer and closer to the end of Rüdiger's race - if there ever was one, to be honest.

According to German newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten, VfL Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs wants Antonio Rüdiger -- but he has his hands tied.

We want and we can not do everything.

The issues with Wolfsburg are UEFA's Financial Fair Play and their parent company Volkswagen. Within Financial Fair Play rules, the German club can only put a bid of €12 million for Rüdiger, which is far behind the €18 million demanded by Stuttgart to release the centre-back. Until Wolfsburg manages to come up with more money -- probably through Volkswagen -- they can't meet Rüdiger's price tag. Chelsea, on the other hand, don't have such restraints.

Rüdiger's agent Sahr Senesie also had quotes in regards to his client's preferences.

Antonio takes Wolfsburg very interesting[ly], but that also applies to Chelsea.

Source: Stuttgarter Nachrichten

Given the current exchange rates, Rüdiger would cost approximately £12.6 million, which seems feasible for him. He is not expected to contribute to the team right away, and for this price I think Chelsea can afford a developmental player with the upside of costing not as much as a home-grown centre-back and having a potential high-gain in the future.