Manchester United are one of the front-runners to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to Corriere di Torino.
The Red Devils are likely to reinforce their midfield department this summer and they have been linked with Rabiot amid the uncertainty over his contract situation.
His current deal at the Bianconeri expires on June 30 and as thing stand, he has no intention to prolong his stay due to the lack of clarity over the manager’s position.
Massimiliano Allegri played a big role to convincing Rabiot to stay for another year last summer, but there are now claims that the Italian tactician could be dismissed.
Rabiot’s agent and mother Veronique continues to hold talks with the Turin giants, but Corriere di Torino (page 25) claim that there is a possibility that he could move elsewhere.
United and Bayern Munich are ‘above all’ in the race to sign the 29-year-old, who was described as an ‘extraordinary‘ player by David Trezequet during the 2022 World Cup.
Signing Rabiot would prove a backward step for United
The Red Devils were keen on landing Rabiot in the summer of 2022. Manager Erik ten Hag personally contacted the Frenchman to convince him over a move to Old Trafford.
Rabiot was impressed by the same, but a deal did not materialise after United refused to meet his wage demands. While the midfielder was eyeing €10m annually, they were only willing to pay €7m per year.
United are now being linked with a Bosman move for the €40 million-rated star, but we believe it would be a backward step, considering he could be past his prime in one or two seasons.
The club made a similar mistake in 2022 by signing Christian Eriksen and Casemiro on big wages. The experienced duo have shown signs of regression over the course of the current campaign.
If the hierarchy want to bring in another midfielder, the focus should be on an emerging star with potential instead of Rabiot, who would also demand a significant signing-on fee.
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