Manchester United and Liverpool have registered interest in signing ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer this summer, based on reports.
Rudiger spent five seasons at Stamford Bridge, winning the FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2022.
In Spain, the 33-year-old has continued so as to add to his trophy haul, winning La Liga and a second Champions League with the Spanish giants.
Despite that, the German defender has yet to agree on an extension to his current contract, which is ready to run out at the tip of the season.
And reports from Italian outlet TuttoSport suggest that a number of top European clubs are monitoring the situation ahead of the summer transfer window.
Juventus missed out on signing Rudiger 4 years ago and are reportedly keen to lure Rudiger to Serie A this summer.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti is claimed to be an enormous admirer of Rudiger after the pair worked together at Roma between 2015 and 2017.
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Nevertheless, the report adds that there’s also significant interest in Rudiger from the Premier League, most notably arch-rivals United and Liverpool, who’ve each made contact with the player to verify their interest.
United could possibly be in search of defensive reinforcements over the summer, but are reportedly near agreeing a contract extension with Harry Maguire to increase his stay on the club.
Liverpool, meanwhile, appear to have made no material progress in a brand new deal for Ibrahima Konate, who has endured an indifferent season this campaign and is out of contract this summer.
The Reds have already bolstered their defence with the signing of talented young defender Jeremy Jacquet, who will join from Rennes in the summertime, and can hope to welcome Giovanni Leoni back from a serious knee injury, too.
But defence continues to be prone to be an area which the Merseyside club will look to enhance over the summer, particularly with Konate’s future uncertain and Virgil van Dijk entering the ultimate 12 months of his deal.
Despite the interest from United and Liverpool, reports in Spain suggest that Real could also opt to increase Rugier’s stay on the Bernabeu.
The 33-year-old has endured a difficult season with injuries, but has now began Real’s last seven games in all competitions and impressed within the 5-1 aggregate win over Manchester City within the Champions League.
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