Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is considering a summer move to Old Trafford to play for Manchester United, according to reports.
The 29-year-old German defender is currently weighing his options for the future if his career as his Chelsea contract winds down. The Blues want to keep him at Stamford Bridge, but the club’s offer is short of what Rudiger wants to earn, as he considers this renewal to be his last big payday in football.
The former AS Roma defender has been linked with moves to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in recent months. Manchester United, too, have reportedly approached the defender.
Latest reports now claim that Rudiger is considering switching to the Manchester club, and is monitoring their managerial decision to help him decide.
United would be willing to pay him between £200,000-£300,000-a-week, which would fulfill the German’s salary expectation. The Red Devils are considering the defender as they are preparing for the exits of Eric Bailly and Phil Jones.
United are also interested in Rudiger due to concerns over captain Harry Maguire’s form.
The Red Devils are also considering Borussia Dortmund’s Manuel Akanji, Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Max Kilman, if they cannot land Rudiger, according to GiveMeSport.
However, they will have to outbid Real Madrid and PSG, who are considered the leading clubs in the race for his signature.
A new Chelsea owner may also be able to convince the German to remain at Stamford Bridge, so the next month is crucial to United’s chances of signing the defender.
Gary Neville slams Man Utd owner over meeting with Man City owner
Elsewhere, Gary Neville has disapproved of the meeting between Avram Glazer, Manchester United’s owner, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Both billionaires met in Dubai for a discussion on various projects, many of which were unrelated to football, a day after Manchester United were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League.
The 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford by Atlético de Madrid was the height of a greatly underwhelming season for the club in turmoil and Glazer’s meeting did not sit well with many fans, Neville included.
United only have the top four to fight for this season, with a fifth consecutive trophyless season about to go by.
Sheikh Mansour took to Twitter to announce the meeting between himself and Glazer. “I met with Avram Glazer, Co-Chairman of Manchester United, today and discussed ways to work together to further raise Dubai’s profile as a global sporting hub.
“We also discussed the UAE T20 Cricket league’s launch in Jan 2023 featuring Manchester United cricket team & other teams,” the tweet read.
Gary Neville responded in scathing fashion towards Glazer, whose handling of the club fans have protested against time and again.
Neville’s response reads: “He must have stopped off on his way to Manchester for those fans meetings they promised post ESL!! United go out of the Champions League and he heads to Dubai to discuss Cricket.”
