Wayne Veysey

Fri 11 February 2022 7:30, UK

Man United are willing to meet the “huge” wage demands of Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger to make him a marquee summer signing, Football Insider can reveal.

The centre-back, 28, is out of contract at the European champions at the end of the season and talks over an extension are still locked in a stalemate.

A United source has told Football Insider that the club have held preliminary talks over a deal with Rudiger’s camp and are ready to agree terms if his talks with Chelsea collapse.

United are offering a “huge” contract to the centre-back that would catapult him into their top bracket of earners on more than £300,000-a-week, the source added.

Chelsea are believed to have made an improved offer to Rudiger in recent weeks.

The European champions have been told they will have to make Rudiger their top earner if they are to tie him down to a new deal.

That has opened the door to rival Premier League clubs as well as those on the Continent, with the latter able to offer the Germany international a pre-contract deal.

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 Germany international rejected Chelsea’s early contract offer after being angered at being offered a worse deal than Mason Mount.

The defender has continued to be a key player at Chelsea during his contract talks.

He has made 28 Premier League and Champions League starts among 33 appearances in all competitions this season.

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