Manchester United could look to repeat a transfer trick if they were to sign defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer.
The Germany international is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, with uncertainty surrounding his future and the status of a potential new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The influence of the 28-year-old shouldn’t be underestimated for Thomas Tuchel, who has gotten the best out of the defender since joining the Blues.
However, with his contract running low and his impressive performances, his demands could be tough for the Blues to meet.
Tuchel discussed the contract negotiations in January, to which he said: “It's in good hands because I trust the club 100% and have trust in my player, so it's a no problem situation for me.
"He's a guy who needs to trust you, he needs to feel the connection, he needs to feel the trust and he wants to feel it by minutes and actions.
"I don't feel Toni that he needs a lot of words, a lot of pampering and coffee talks and invitations to dinners and whatever. He is the top professional, this is what he proves.
"He's very important and nothing has changed - we're in talks."
Whether the club will feel so comfortable in the next few weeks and months will remain to be seen, with the contract dwindling even further.
And amid a potential move away, Manchester United have been linked with a move for the defender to help shore up their back line.
A move for Rudiger could see the Red Devils repeat a transfer trick of theirs from a few years ago, where they picked up a few key players from the Blues.
In particular, that of Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic. Mata, 33, made the move to Old Trafford in 2014 for roughly £40m after three-years at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard has managed to pick up four trophies in his time at the club, but has more recently played a reserve role for the squad.
Similar can be said of Matic, who moved to Manchester in 2017 for £40m too. The midfielder is yet to win a trophy with the club, but has been a key player for them in the past.
Whether Rudiger would make the switch is another question, however he may be hoping to bring about better days for the club if he does, given their struggles in the Premier League and domestic competitions as of late.
