Off the pitch, Chelsea is in serious turmoil right now due to the sanctions from the UK government against owner Roman Abramovich, which has resulted in the Russian having to put the club up for sale. One of the huge downfalls of this situation is the Blues' inability to make any moves on the transfer market, whether it's bringing in new talent or extending current players in the squad.

That being said, two key figures of the Chelsea backline, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have failed to put pen to paper because of the sanctions. While Christensen is reportedly in negotiations with Barcelona, it's now become almost a foregone conclusion that Rudiger will leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer in the coming months, which is a massive blow.

Via Mail Sport:

Rudiger is the heart and soul of the Chelsea defense alongside Thiago Silva and he's absolutely cherished by the Blues supporters. There is no doubt the club would love to keep him, but reports indicate the two parties were extremely close to finalizing a deal before the whole Abramovich saga reared its ugly head.

The German international joined Chelsea in 2017 from Roma and has been a staple in their starting XI ever since. His passion and ability to contribute on both ends of the pitch is a treat to watch. There should be no shortage of suitors interested in him either, with the likes of Real Madrid, PSG, and Juventus keen.