Transfer Centre

Manchester United to reignite Adrien Rabiot pursuit?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 May 2023

Man United to reignite Adrien Rabiot pursuit?

Manchester United reportedly plan to reignite their interest in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot this summer following their failed pursuit in 2022.

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to reignite their interest in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot during the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils were understood to have been in talks over a deal for the 28-year-old last summer before he entered the final year of his contract with Juventus.

A £15m deal was apparently struck between Man United and Juventus, and the former's director of football John Murtough jetted off to Italy in order to push a move through.

However, the two parties could ultimately not come to an agreement on personal terms, and Rabiot remained in Turin to see out the last 12 months of his Bianconeri deal.

Since last year's transfer saga, Rabiot has posted an impressive set of numbers under Massimiliano Allegri, netting 11 goals and setting up four more in 44 matches across all tournaments this term.

Juventus' Adrien Rabiot in action with Napoli's Victor Osimhen on April 23, 2023 © Reuters

The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has eight strikes from 29 Serie A games - second only to Dusan Vlahovic's 10 for the club - and he has played every minute of their run to the Europa League semi-finals.

However, there is seemingly no indication that Rabiot's contract at the Allianz Stadium will be extended beyond the end of the season, and he could therefore be available as a free agent this summer.

According to French outlet L'Equipe, Man United will try again for Rabiot's signature in the upcoming window, with Erik ten Hag viewing the 28-year-old as a priority signing.

The report adds that Newcastle United have also expressed an interest in bringing the midfielder to the Premier League, where he recently announced his desire to play in one day.

The Magpies are already playing catch-up to Man United in the race for Rabiot, though, due to the midfielder and Ten Hag holding positive rounds of discussions over an eventual switch to the Theatre of Dreams.

Adrien Rabiot in action for Juventus on August 22, 2022 © Reuters

Juventus are believed to be open to keeping Rabiot on the books given his impressive season, but they could struggle to tie him down to fresh terms given their volatile financial circumstances.

The Old Lady poached the Frenchman from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2019, and he has since scored 17 goals and set up 10 more in 173 games for the Italian giants.

Rabiot has won a trio of honours in Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana in black and white, while he also started five games for France at the 2022 World Cup, including their defeat to Argentina in the final.

Despite being forced to accept defeat in their pursuit of Rabiot, as well as Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, Man United ended the summer window with two astute midfield signings in Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, both of whom have made immediate impacts at Old Trafford.

However, a new midfielder could be on the agenda this summer if Scott McTominay calls time on his Old Trafford career, but a striker signing is expected to be the Red Devils' number one priority.