Manchester United’s pursuit of Adrien Rabiot last summer ended in a torrent of animosity following the failure to complete the deal at the 11th hour.
What’s the word?
A report from 90min states that a host of Premier League outfits, along with Barcelona, have been offered the chance to sign the Juventus midfielder ahead of the expiry of his contract, with a fee of roughly €20m (£17m) being touted.
The Red Devils are one such team, and are seemingly impressed by the industrious ace once again after failing to agree personal terms in a transfer lunge last year.
Indeed, with a summer deal having been all but agreed, United will need to start from scratch if they are to claim his signature, with interest heightened following his exploits at the World Cup in Qatar.
Man Utd’s next Pogba?
It is understood that Rabiot wants to swiftly exit Juventus, with United joined in their intrigue by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur.
However, with the Red Devils cautiously tip-toeing in the right direction after so many turbulent years of instability, Rabiot might yet be enticed to complete his unfinished business with the club.
As per The Athletic, Rabiot expressed his desire to one day ply his trade in the Premier League, and the now 27-year-old might feel that such a time draws near as he approaches the prime of his career.
He said: “I have always said that I’d like to play in England in my career. I still have that desire. I’d like to evolve in the Premier League.
“I haven’t got a Premier League team in mind right now. I haven’t chosen a team or anything. It’s a general thing. It’s the league, it’s the level of play that’s going on, that’s what attracts me most. It corresponds to my qualities.”
Should the Red Devils manage to sign the Frenchman, they would boast a composed and tenacious presence at the heart of their midfield.
With a 7.29 season ranking from Sofascore, he would certainly be an upgrade on the likes of Scott McTominay – who has recorded a lowly rating of 6.63 in the league this term – and could even fit the void that Paul Pogba has left since his departure from the club to, coincidentally, Juventus.
Pogba signed for United for a then world-record fee of £89m in 2016 from the Turin giants, who he joined from the Red Devils as a teenager, before re-signing for the Bianconeri on a free transfer last year – all very convoluted.
Rabiot could adopt that vacant role in Erik ten Hag’s team, providing a sense of reliability that his compatriot was not always able to offer. He has missed just 13 games due to injury since the start of the 2019/20 campaign; by contrast, Pogba has missed 108 in the same period.
At the World Cup, with France set for a seismic final showdown against Argentina, the “elite” Rabiot 9as hailed by journalist Dominic Booth) has played a pivotal role. He has recorded an average rating of 7.16 and increased his stock with a string of excellent displays, averaging 1.6 shots per game, completing 86% of his passes and chipping in with two tackles per match, as per Sofascore.
It remains to be seen whether United swoop – and whether they are successful in doing so – but should they secure Rabiot’s services, they would bolster the middle of the park and create a sense of structure and a foundation to pave the way for a new prosperous era under Ten Hag at Old Trafford.