Manchester United step up Adrien Rabiot pursuit?

Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their interest Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot during the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils were reportedly negotiating a deal for the 28-year-old last summer. He had one year left on his contract with Juventus. The two parties apparently agreed on a £15m deal, and Man United’s director of football John Murtough went to Italy to finalise the transfer.

However, they failed to agree on personal terms, and Rabiot remained in Turin to finish the last year of his contract with the Bianconeri.

Since then, Rabiot has put up impressive numbers under Massimiliano Allegri, scoring 11 goals and assisting four in 44 matches across all competitions this season. He has also played every minute of Juventus’s run to the Europa League semi-finals, scoring eight goals in 29 Serie A games.

Nevertheless, there are no indications that Rabiot’s contract at the Allianz Stadium will be extended beyond the end of the season. Therefore, he could be a free agent this summer.

According to French outlet L’Equipe, Man United plans to pursue Rabiot again in the upcoming window, and Erik ten Hag sees him as a priority signing.

Furthermore, the report states that Newcastle United have also shown interest in signing Rabiot and bringing him to the Premier League, where the player recently expressed his desire to play. However, Man United appears to be in a better position to acquire Rabiot, as the midfielder and Ten Hag have had positive discussions regarding a move to Old Trafford.

Despite Rabiot’s impressive season, Juventus may struggle to retain the midfielder due to their financial difficulties. The Italian club acquired Rabiot on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, and he has since scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 173 games for the club.