Roy Keane believes Antonio Rudiger will have turned down any approach from Manchester United because the club aren't equipped to win trophies.
The centre-half will leave Chelsea this summer when his contract expires, meaning he is available for nothing. Rudiger is seeking a major pay packet when he pens his next deal having been locked in negotiations for several months. The sanctions placed on the the Blues meant those talks were shelved and the German will now seek pastures new.
United were among those linked with Rudiger, who has become one of the Premier League's leading defenders in recent years. A new centre-half could be eyed in the summer, despite the arrival of Raphael Varane this season. However Keane claims the current state of affairs at Old Trafford will have been a major turn off for the German.
He said on Sky Sports : "I guess they did try and approach him - I think they have done - but he thought 'no I want to win some trophies'." Keane also added on Rudiger: "He'll finish the season strongly, he seems that type of character."
The 29-year-old, who joined from Roma in 2017, has made 47 appearances in all competitions so far this term. He has excelled in a three-man backline under Thomas Tuchel and is not without his admirers. PSG and Bayern Munich have both been linked with Rudiger.
However it looks as if Real Madrid have won the race for the Champions League winner, according to reports. Tuchel claimed the club had done everything possible to retain the German before the sanctions took matters out of their hands.
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He said at the weekend: "The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk. We gave everything - me and the club - but we could not fight anymore because of the actions. Without the sanctions we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don't take it personally. It is his decision.
"He is a key figure and will stay that way until the end of the season. But it is disappointing. We will miss him a lot. He gives courage in the dressing room. The kind everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level. He is a top defender in the last one-and-a-half years for me. We then need to find another solution."
United currently have Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly all available for selection. Erik ten Hag is set to lead a squad overhaul which could see several of them moved on in the coming months. Several young prospects have also been handed opportunities.
