Krishnan Sreekumar
Transfer News: Manchester United target Antonio Rudiger almost certain to leave Chelsea amid recent chaos
According to Sky Sports News (h/t Metro), Manchester United target and Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is almost certain to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season after the Blues were put in turmoil following the UK government’s sanction on club owner Roman Abramovich.
The government took action against the Russian amid his ties to Vladimir Putin, in light of the recent crisis in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion. As a result, Chelsea are operating under a special license that prevents Abramovich from selling the club.
This also means that the Blues are restricted from making any new signings or conducting any contract negotiations, which puts Rudiger in a tight situation, given that his contract expires in the summer.
Arguably the best defender at Stamford Bridge, the German has been a revelation for the club over the past two years, helping them to Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup win. He was also a finalist with Chelsea in the recent Carabao Cup campaign, which Liverpool won on penalties.
Manchester United transfer boost
As things stand, Chelsea will not be able to tie down the centre-back to a new deal in west London. Therefore, Rudiger is likely to assess the offers he may receive from European giants like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United, who are interested in him.
United have been chasing a defensive reinforcement after the poor showings by their current crop of defenders in the squad, most notably club captain Harry Maguire, who has been woeful this term. Chelsea’s crisis, therefore, could work to our benefit at the end of the season.
Maguire has been on the receiving end of various critics and fans, blaming him for the team’s poor defensive displays this season. The Englishman has not been able to lead the team by example, committing schoolboy errors and unable to inspire his fellow teammates to avoid defeat.
United brought in Raphael Varane the previous summer from Real Madrid to partner Maguire and shore up the defence, but he too has been satisfactory at best. A real defensive stalwart is needed to bolster our rearguard, and Rudiger presents himself as an ideal target.
More Tottenham Hotspur News
- Manchester United have early team news ahead of Tottenham Hotspur clash on Saturday
- Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino faces sack and will seek to become Manchester United’s next manager
- Jamie Carragher urges Manchester United to poach Thomas Tuchel amid Chelsea crisis
The Chelsea man has delayed committing himself to Chelsea after being frustrated by the lack of progress made in contract negotiations and had been holding out for a salary offer in the region of £250,000-a-week. It remains to be seen if United are willing to match that amount after already shelling out a decent sum on players last summer.
At 29, the player is in the prime years of his playing career and is at his peak currently, putting in consistently solid performances and hardly ever being injured at the Bridge. He may be the rock at the back that we have been searching for, and Chelsea’s crisis could potentially help us snap up the player for free in the summer.
