Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has said he has now decided to stay at Stamford Bridge after seriously considering leaving the Blues before the transfer window closed last month:

“I’m satisfied with how the situation has developed in the past weeks. Now I see myself as a permanent part of the team. I had a tough time, so I also checked other transfer options but I received positive signals from the coaching team.”

Insider source ExWHUemployee confirmed at the beginning of October that the German international had turned down a move to West Ham, and any hopes that the Hammers had of reviving their move for the centre-back in January have now all but been extinguished.

Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham were also believed to be interested in Rudiger but the 27-year-old has begun to feature more prominently under manager Frank Lampard in recent weeks, having started the 2-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend.

Whether Irons boss David Moyes will seek out another centre-half in the New Year, we shall have to wait and see. The London club did sign Craig Dawson on loan from Watford to shore up their numbers but a more permanent addition to the squad may need to be found.