Chelsea Transfer News: Antonio Rudiger Competition Emerges, Latest Rumours

Chelsea could reportedly have to battle with Manchester United if they want to sign long-term target Antonio Rudiger from Roma.

According to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, United manager Jose Mourinho is planning a defensive overhaul and wants to bring in a new centre-back in January, with Rudiger being considered as a potential option.

Mokbel recently reported on MailOnline that Blues boss Antonio Conte has asked for the 23-year-old German to be monitored by his scouts ahead of a defensive rebuild in January, and he could be available for around £35 million. 

In addition, Conte is reportedly a "huge admirer" of Rudiger and marked him as a potential summer signing before he picked up a knee injury that kept him out of Euro 2016.

Chelsea will be desperate not to lose out to United in the race to sign Rudiger, especially after their summer travails as they missed out on numerous defensive targets.

Per the Sun's Duncan Wright, the re-signing of David Luiz at the end of the summer transfer window was a last resort from Chelsea after they missed out on Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci, AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli and, according to L'Equipe, Paris Saint-Germain's Presnel Kimpembe.

Poor recruitment was recently picked out by a Bleacher Report panel as the cause of many of Chelsea's problems so far in 2016-17:

Despite a recent improvement at the back since Conte started utilising a 3-4-3 formation, the west London outfit still need to add further quality in defence, as John Terry is past his prime and Luiz and Gary Cahill are inconsistent.

Germany international Rudiger would be the ideal addition as he is an excellent young talent, but, given United's financial strength and their willingness to spend big, Chelsea could have a battle on their hands if they want to secure him. 

Meanwhile, Chelsea youngsters Nathaniel Chalobah and Ola Aina could find their game time severely limited for the rest of the season following the Blues' EFL Cup exit on Wednesday at the hands of West Ham United.

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Per Neil McLeman in the Mirror, Chelsea have 38 players out on loan at the moment, but Conte opted to keep midfielder Chalobah, 21, and defender Aina, 20, at the club and has given them both starts in the League Cup this term.

However, the Italian manager has now hinted Chelsea's exit from the competition could limit their minutes, per McLeman: "This cup was very important to check the development of these young players. I think we have good young players and they need to play and for this reason I am disappointed that we can’t play in the future."

Chelsea are not in Europe this season and so now have only the Premier League and FA Cup to focus on, tournaments in which Conte is unlikely to risk his unproven youngsters.