Barcelona 'weighing up offer for Antonio Rudiger'

Barcelona are reportedly considering an offer for Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger.

The 27-year-old has been left out of Chelsea's last two squads against Liverpool and Barnsley, while he is yet to play a minute of first-team action for the Blues this season.

The Germany international is allegedly available for transfer ahead of the deadline at the start of October, and a recent report claimed that Paris Saint-Germain were interested in his services.

However, according to Goal, Barca are also weighing up a move for the former Borussia Dortmund youngster as Ronald Koeman looks to improve his defence before the end of the window.

The report claims that Manchester City's Eric Garcia is still the Catalan outfit's leading defensive target, but a swoop for Rudiger could occur if the club are unsuccessful in convincing Pep Guardiola's side to sell.

Rudiger has made 115 appearances for the Blues since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2017.

Thiago Silva's arrival from PSG on a free transfer has pushed the German further down the pecking order, though, with Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori also ahead of him.