Tottenham interested in surprise deal for Chelsea outcast

Jose Mourinho is prepared to call off Tottenham's pursuit of Inter centre-back Milan Skriniar and target Chelsea outcast Antonio Rudiger, claims The Daily Telegraph.

Mourinho is desperate to sign a new centre-back after Jan Vertonghen's departure earlier in the summer but Tottenham have been unable to agree a fee with Inter for first-choice target Skriniar.

Inter are holding out for in the region of £50m for Skriniar and with time quickly running out in the transfer window Mourinho is looking at alternative targets.

With Rudiger potentially set to leave Chelsea, Mourinho is interested in raiding his former club to bring the Germany international to north London.

After playing a key role in convincing Timo Werner to join Chelsea this summer, Rudiger now finds himself on the outside looking in at Stamford Bridge.

Thiago Silva's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain has pushed Rudiger completely out of the picture and he has been left out of the squad in three of Chelsea's opening four matches this season.

PSG manager Thomas Tuchel is also keen on the 27-year-old and has reportedly even had multiple phone calls with the German, but Tottenham's interest has taken Chelsea by surprise.

Rudiger has spent the last three years at Chelsea after signing from Roma for an initial £29m fee and any loan move away this summer would likely see the centre-back first sign an extension to retain his value. 

Rudiger was limited to just 19 starts in the Premier League last season and Chelsea conceded fewer goals per game when he did start (1.32) compared to when he didn't (1.53).