Transfer rumour mill: Manchester United and Chelsea interested in Roma defender Rudiger

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are eyeing a £35 million deal for 23-year-old German international Antonio Rudiger, and Manchester United are monitoring the defender too.

With the rumour popping up in other papers like The Sun, the Independent and the Daily Mirror, it would not be a surprise if a deal is put into place in the future, considering the lack of defensive options José Mourinho currently has.

However, with two months before the January transfer window opens, Chelsea and United won't be the only clubs that will be interested in the big defender.

Keeping in mind that Eric Bailly recently picked up a knee injury and will be on the sidelines for eight weeks, United will desperately need a replacement as well as another defender to add depth to the squad. The Ivory Coast international has been one of the Red Devils’ best players so far this season.

Rudiger has only returned to action recently, after being out with an injury since August. He was a regular starter for the Italian side last season, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

Rudiger would represent an upgrade on the current defenders in the squad as he offers the ideal positional awareness, ability to read the game as well as having the pace to recover if he gets caught out.

The former Stuttgart player is highly rated in Italy and is recognised as a player that has the potential to be world class. Scouts from Old Trafford were reportedly keeping tabs on the progress of Rudiger, who was impressive for Roma before he suffered a knee ligament injury.

It’s unlikely that Roma will sell one of their key players in January with limited time to find a replacement, but if United put in an offer they can’t refuse, then Rudiger is there for the taking.