Manchester United have reportedly entered the competition to recruit Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, with the Red Devils planning an initial bid of £51 million.
The 30-year-old might be ready for a quick return to the Premier League after departing Chelsea at the end of his contract last summer, allowing him to join Los Blancos in Spain.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men lost the La Liga title to rivals Barcelona in 2022-23, despite the fact that the Germany international appeared 33 times in the league, 26 of which were from the start.
Despite several standout performances, most notably against Manchester City and Erling Haaland in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, the centre-back was not a lock for a starting spot for the 14-time European champions.
Manchester United are contemplating a £51 million bid for Rudiger this summer, according to Football.London, as Erik ten Hag aims to assemble a squad capable of contending in four tournaments next season.
After winning the EFL Cup and finishing third in the Premier League in his first season as manager at Old Trafford, the Red Devils will return to UEFA’s flagship club tournament after a one-year sabbatical.
With Rudiger’s contract at the Bernabeu expiring in the summer of 2026, any possible suitors will have to make a sizable offer to convince Madrid to part ways with the defender.
United are believed to be hoping to entice Rudiger to join them by promising regular first-team action, something that Ancelotti cannot promise due to the partnership of David Alaba and Eder Militao.
The Red Devils are also thought to be willing to offer Rudiger better personal terms than he presently obtains in Spain, with Ten Hag eager to add another high-profile defender to his ranks.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez were United’s favoured center-back partnership last season, assisting David De Gea in keeping 17 clean sheets in the Premier League, earning the Spaniard the division’s Golden Glove title during his last season.
Man United is also focused on additional transactions as the summer transfer season unfolds, with the pursuits of Serie A’s Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund nearing completion.
Ten Hag’s charges are thought to be hopeful of concluding a deal for the Inter Milan stopper by the end of the week, with the Cameroonian likely to replace the club’s first-choice keeper, David De Gea.
Hojlund of Atalanta BC is also high on the manager’s list of targets, and United is expected to make an upgraded offer for the Danish striker in the coming days.
Mason Mount, a former Chelsea player, has already been confirmed as a transfer, and the England international might make his debut for his new club when they face Leeds United in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.
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