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  "path": "/2026/03/24/manchester-united-liverpool-make-contact-sign-ex-chelsea-star-free-transfer-27649844/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-24T18:16:13.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Liverpool FC",
    "Liverpool Transfer News",
    "Manchester United",
    "Manchester United Transfer News",
    "Premier League",
    "Real Madrid",
    "Real Madrid transfer news",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Liverpool",
    "Antonio Rudiger",
    "FA Cup",
    "Europa League",
    "Champions League",
    "joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2022.",
    "German",
    "Sign up here",
    "will join from Rennes in the summer",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
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    "Instagram",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Manchester United and Liverpool are in the hunt (Picture: Getty)\n\nManchester United and Liverpool have registered interest in signing ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.\n\nRudiger spent five seasons at Stamford Bridge, winning the FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2022.\n\nIn Spain, the 33-year-old has continued to add to his trophy haul, winning La Liga and a second Champions League with the Spanish giants.\n\nDespite that, the German defender has yet to agree on an extension to his current contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season.\n\nAnd reports from Italian outlet TuttoSport suggest that a host of top European clubs are monitoring the situation ahead of the summer transfer window.\n\nJuventus missed out on signing Rudiger four years ago and are reportedly keen to lure Rudiger to Serie A this summer.\n\nHead coach Luciano Spalletti is said to be a huge admirer of Rudiger after the pair worked together at Roma between 2015 and 2017.\n\n##  Your football fix\n\n**Metro** 's Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week's biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nAntonio Rudiger is out of contract at Real Madrid at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)\n\nHowever, the report adds that there is also significant interest in Rudiger from the Premier League, most notably arch-rivals United and Liverpool, who have both made contact with the player to confirm their interest.\n\nUnited could be looking for defensive reinforcements over the summer, but are reportedly close to agreeing a contract extension with Harry Maguire to extend his stay at the club.\n\nLiverpool, meanwhile, appear to have made no material progress in a new deal for Ibrahima Konate, who has endured an indifferent season this campaign and is out of contract this summer.\n\nThe Reds have already bolstered their defence with the signing of talented young defender Jeremy Jacquet, who will join from Rennes in the summer, and will hope to welcome Giovanni Leoni back from a serious knee injury, too.\n\nBut defence is still likely to be an area which the Merseyside club will look to improve over the summer, particularly with Konate’s future uncertain and Virgil van Dijk entering the final year of his deal.\n\nDespite the interest from United and Liverpool, reports in Spain suggest that Real could also opt to extend Rugier’s stay at the Bernabeu.\n\nThe 33-year-old has endured a difficult season with injuries, but has now started Real’s last seven games in all competitions and impressed in the 5-1 aggregate win over Manchester City in the Champions League.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Manchester United and Liverpool ‘make contact’ to sign ex-Chelsea star on free transfer"
}