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Source: Man United 'confident' of signing Antonio Rudiger amid significant Tuchel development
Man United are “confident” of winning the race to sign Antonio Rudiger if they appoint Thomas Tuchel as their new manager, Football Insider understands.
United have registered their interest in signing the defender, 29, on a free transfer when his Chelsea contract expires this summer.
A source at the Premier League giants told Football Insider they are “confident” of fending off the top-level competition for Rudiger’s signature if they were to land Tuchel.
The Germany centre-back has an excellent relationship with his countryman Tuchel and would be eager to extend their association at Old Trafford.
The door has swung open for United to lure the pair following the extraordinary recent events at Chelsea.
The club are in takeover talks with multiple bidders after Roman Abramovich’s British assets were frozen last week due to his link to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The west London club were granted a special licence to continue football operations but there is great uncertainty over the club’s future.
One player who is now more likely to leave is Rudiger, who has rejected multiple attempts from Chelsea to secure him to a new contract.
United are willing to meet the wage demands of Rudiger to make him a marquee summer signing.
He is holding out for a deal worth more than £300,000-a-week.
That would not be an insurmountable hurdle for United, who have a number of star players earning more than that sum.
United are firmly in the race as well as Tottenham and the European elite, including Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Overseas clubs have a major advantage as they can formally secure Rudiger to a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer.
The defender has continued to be a key player at Chelsea during his contract talks.
He has made 33 Premier League and Champions League starts among 41 appearances in all competitions this season.
As revealed by this site last week, United are planning to “go all out” for Tuchel, 48, amid the financial chaos at Stamford Bridge.
The reigning world’s best coach is regarded by the United hierarchy as “by far the best candidate” given his pedigree, Premier League experience and proven ability at winning the biggest trophies.
Director of football John Murtough is leading the chase for the successor to interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who will step down at the end of the season to take on a consultant’s role.
In other news, Man United star has been “mugged off” in “the biggest surprise” yet from fall-out.