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Manchester City want Antonio Rudiger as Pep Guardiola makes £30million Roma defender one of key targets this summer

PEP GUARDIOLA wants to tie up a deal for £30million-rated Antonio Rudiger.

According to the Mirror, the Germany international is one of Guardiola‘s key defensive targets as the Manchester City boss looks to build a new-look defence for next season.

Antonio Rudiger is being targeted by Manchester City
Antonio Rudiger is being targeted by Manchester City
Reuters

Rudiger, 24, has impressed City scouts, who are thought to have been at all of the Germany international’s recent games.

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Chelsea have also shown an interest in the former Stuttgart defender and Antonio Conte was expected to move in January to bolster his backline as Blues ramped up their title challenge.

The Premier League leaders were in the hunt over the summer, but put the deal on ice when Rudiger picked up a knee injury which ruled him out until late October.

Rudiger competes for a header with Lyon's Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa on Thursday
Rudiger competes for a header with Lyon’s Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa on Thursday
Getty Images
Rudiger's versaitility is admired by City boss pep Guardiola
Rudiger’s versatility is admired by City boss Pep Guardiola
Getty Images
Guardiola is desperate to bolster his leaky backline
Guardiola is desperate to bolster his leaky backline
EPA
Chelsea chief Antonio Conte is also an admirer of Rudiger
Chelsea chief Antonio Conte is also an admirer of Rudiger
Reuters

He has since made 13 league appearances for Roma, who sit second in Serie A and eight points backs from leaders Juventus.

But Rudiger is keen to quit Italy and was subject to racist taunts in a Coppa Italia defeat to Lazio last month.

And the 11-cap defender will be the focus of plenty of Premier League scouts when England face Germany on Wednesday.

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He has been named in a 24-man squad, along with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi, City forward Leroy Sane and Liverpool midfielder Emre Can.

City were dumped out of the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday as Guardiola watched his flaky defence surrender a two-goal first-leg advantage.

Rudiger was racially abused in a derby defeat to Lazio last month
Rudiger was racially abused in a derby defeat to Lazio last month
EPA
Rudiger in action with Harry Kane during a friendly defeat to England
Rudiger in action with Harry Kane during a friendly defeat to England
Reuters

And the former Barcelona boss has now revealed that he is being seriously tested as a manager for the first time.

Guardiola said: “I have more power than ever in my life as a manager. For me it’s a big challenge.

“This is the first time in my career as a manager where I feel: Now is the moment, you have to see yourself as a manager.”

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