Dimitar Berbatov has urged Manchester United to sign Chelsea contract rebel Antonio Rudiger and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti this summer. Germany international Rudiger looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and United have been one of the clubs linked with a move. The Red Devils signed former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane last summer but the team’s defence has still struggled this season, with Harry Maguire coming in for heavy criticism and Victor Lindelof also underperforming.
Rudiger, meanwhile, has been one of Chelsea’s best and most important players over the past two seasons, helping Thomas Tuchel’s side win the Champions League back in May. Berbatov says that United do need to sign a top central defender this summer and Rudiger has already proven to be such a player in the last couple of months. The former United striker says that the club have five players in that position but they still lack top quality in that department and that has to change in the summer.
Rudiger is heading for the exit door at a difficult time for Chelsea, with the Premier League club hit by sanctions to their owner Roman Abramovich this week. Given the sanctions, Chelsea are unable to sign or sell any players, have been forced to close their club shop and hotel and stop selling matchday tickets.
Manchester United are expected to go on another spending spree this summer after a difficult season under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and current boss Ralf Rangnick. Sitting fifth in the Premier League, the Red Devils face an uphill battle to secure a top-four spot, with fourth-placed Arsenal one point above them with three games in hand. Berbatov would like to see PSG star Verratti arrive through the doors at Old Trafford and says Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are two other dream signings for his former club.