"The Red Devils," Manchester United, are reportedly preparing to sign a former Premier League star to join their squad.
Italian media outlet Tuttosport reported that "The Red Devils," Manchester United, are considering signing Antonio Rüdiger, the German international defender from "Los Blancos" Real Madrid, to Old Trafford this summer.
Rüdiger, 33, has appeared in 174 matches across all competitions for Real Madrid since moving from Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. However, there is a possibility he will become a free agent again after this season.
This is because his current contract expires at the end of June, although he might still receive a new offer from the Spanish giants. While a contract renewal with Real Madrid is not ruled out, Rüdiger's situation has attracted interest from major clubs across Europe, including top Premier League teams.
According to Tuttosport, Manchester United has shown interest in bringing Rüdiger back to play in the English Premier League again this summer to prepare for the 2026-27 season.
However, Manchester United faces competition from both Liverpool and Juventus. Juventus hopes that their coach, Luciano Spalletti, will play a key role in signing Rüdiger due to the strong relationship they share from their time working together at Roma.
Additionally, the report states that Manchester United's decision to sign a new central defender depends on the future of Harry Maguire, whose contract also expires this summer, although reports suggest he is close to agreeing on a new deal with the Red Devils.
This means the club’s recruitment team must assess whether they are satisfied with Maguire, Ayden Hewen, Lisandro Martínez, Matthijs de Ligt, and Lenny Yaro as central defenders or if they need to look for new players in the market to strengthen their defense.
Regarding Liverpool, Ibrahima Konaté faces an uncertain future at Anfield as his contract will expire in June.
Jeremy Doku will join from Rennes this summer, but the Reds will certainly look to bring in a new defender if Konaté leaves after this season, as he has long been a transfer target for Real Madrid.