For Chelsea, when it rains, it pours.

Just days after Barcelona agreed deals to sign Andreas Christensen, who is one of their top-notch youth products which have broken through from the academy into the first team, Chelsea are resigned to losing their best defender of the season, Antonio Rudiger, as multiple media outlets confirmed that Real Madrid have reached a preliminary agreement to sign the 29-year-old when his contracts expire in June.

ESPN revealed that the Spanish giants were impressed by Rudiger's performances in their Champions League quarterfinal tie with Chelsea and the deal could be sealed "in record time." Rudiger scored Chelsea's second goal against Madrid in a dramatic 3-2 win that saw the Premier League powerhouse eliminated 5-4 on aggregate after extra time.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a brilliant track record of reporting transfer scoops, said European top clubs, including Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United and Real Madrid, have all shown their willingness to sign Rudiger this summer, and Madrid eventually won the race. The German star is expected to pen a four-year contract.

Chelsea are struggling to persuade their players to stay put because of sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich following Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. The defending Champions League champions have publicly expressed their bitter disappointment of falling to reaching a deal to extend Rudiger.

"We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore. Without the sanctions we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don't take it personally. It is his decision," Blues boss Thomas Tuchel told a press conference over the weekend.

"The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk. We don't take it personally. It is his decision. He is a key figure and will stay that way until the end of the season," he added. 

"But it is disappointing. We will miss him a lot. He gives courage in the dressing room. The kind everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level. He is a top defender in the last one-and-a-half years for me. We then need to find another solution."

When asked on whether Chelsea will be able to replace Rudiger after his departure, Tuchel said, "In the moment not, because of the sanctions. We had a connection from day one and he deserves my full support. I'm just happy to have had the chance to coach him in the team and the club did as well. We had offers, big offers and the club tried everything but we cannot fight anymore."

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has reportedly told his teammates that he will leave at the end of the season and also left the WhatsApp chat group the squad uses to stay in touch.

According to the Daily Mirror, the 29-year-old World Cup winner, who picked up an injury in the 4-0 defeat at Liverpool last week and could be out for the rest of the campaign, has received two contract offers amid interest from Real Madrid and PSG.

United interim manager Ralf Rangnick previously indicated that Pogba had played his last game for the club. "'The doctor told me it will take four weeks minimum for him to recover and the last game is at the end of May," said Rangnick in a press briefing. "I don't think it's very likely he will play again."

Rangnick also admitted the struggling United would undergo a huge change in the summer. "It's obvious there are quite a few players whose contracts are expiring, there might be a few others who are on loan, might still want to be on loan or leave the club, it will be a significant change and rebuild necessary," he observed.