A German journalist has confirmed that Premier League side Man Utd are interested in Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.
The Germany international is out of contract at the end of the season and discussions with the Blues have made little progress.
It has been reported that Rudiger wants £200k a week but that the latest offer from the west London outgit currently stands at £140k a week.
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There has been interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG with a fresh report yesterday claiming that Man Utd have now entered the race for the 28-year-old.
Sky Germany insisted that Man Utd are an ‘additional contender’ for Rudiger and the Premier League club have ‘entered transfer poker’ for the centre-back.
And now Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk has confirmed the interest from the Red Devils, claiming Man Utd are ‘interested in’ Rudiger and that their interim boss Ralf Rangnick ‘knows his agent and brother Sahr Senesie very well and signalled willingness to negotiate’.
TRUE✅ @ManUtd is interested in @ToniRuediger – Ralf Rangnick knows his Agent and Brother Sahr Senesie very well and signaled willingness to negotiate pic.twitter.com/6Xz4nZ2u4T
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) December 15, 2021
Rangnick’s contacts could give Man Utd the upper hand but Falk adds that Real Madrid is Rudiger’s ‘favorite’ despite ‘no decision’.
TRUE✅ @realmadrid negotiate a Transfer of @ToniRuediger. if Rüdiger leaves @ChelseaFC , Real is his favorite. No decision yet pic.twitter.com/VsiL9T8PkR
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) December 15, 2021
When Thomas Tuchel was asked if no player is bigger than Chelsea or if Rudiger’s situation remains crucial to the Blues’ immediate future, he replied: “Both. Both answers are correct.
“It is super important and as I understood myself and everybody else, we absolutely accept the importance, we’re fully aware of the importance of Toni and the role that he’s playing on and off the pitch.
“There is no doubt in that and yes, it’s true, nobody is bigger than the club, nobody. This is a team effort, and it is a team game, and it is a strong club, and it is about the club.
“It is also not about me and it is not only about Toni. And I mean that in the best way, because we know what he’s doing and we’re fully aware of it.
“So both answers are right and in the end we need a bit of patience. I have no update right now.”
