Jose Mourinho is preparing to overhaul his Manchester United defence in January.
The Daily Mail is reporting that the Red Devils boss is very keen on AS Roma centre-back Antonio Rudiger and is willing to part with at least a duo of current defenders in order to land him.
United are willing to sell Marcos Rojo in January while the interest in Rudiger has cast doubt over the Old Trafford future of Chris Smalling and Daley Blind.
It is also understood that Italian right-back Matteo Darmian will be either loaned or sold when the winter transfer window opens.
Rudiger is close to a first-team return at Roma having injured his knee on the eve of Euro2016 with Germany and Mourinho wants to monitor him for the remainder of 2016 before making a move.
The recent form of Smalling, Blind and Rojo - along with the two-month injury to the impressive Eric Bailly - has prompted the United boss to look into the defender's market as he strives to sure things up at the back following an indifferent start to the season.
23-year-old Rudiger, who joined Roma from Stuttgart in the summer of 2015, is also being linked with Chelsea.