Fabrizio Romano has stated that Manchester United could pursue Adrien Rabiot this summer.
United made a surprising move for Rabiot last summer, agreeing a fee in the region of €17 million with Juventus.
Negotiations broke down, however, after the player and his agent (his mother, Veronique) demanded too high a salary.
Casemiro was subsequently signed for €70 million.
Rabiot went on to regain his position in Juve’s team and performed so well in Serie A to warrant a starting midfield role in France’s World Cup campaign.
The 27-year-old’s contract in Turin expires in June. Juve have made his renewal a priority but are yet to make a breakthrough in talks.
Fabrizio Romano has detailed that, while a late January move is impossible, United may reignite their interest in the player should he not re-sign with the Old Lady.
Erik ten Hag is said to admire the player – which, as Romano highlights, is admiration that existed prior to Rabiot’s resurgence – and United’s current transfer strategy revolves around the new manager’s personal shortlist.
Romano said:
“Despite all the rumours, [Rabiot] is 100% staying at Juventus in January, then we’ll see in the summer. It is a concrete possibility for Rabiot to leave on a free and try a Premier League experience.
“Erik ten Hag is a big fan. In a really complicated moment when he was not playing for Juventus, Ten hag wanted him, he was seeing the potential. Then he had a great first half of the season with Juventus, a great World Cup with France.
“The point is about the player, how much is he gonna ask [for]?
“From what I am told it is something for the summer.”
[READ NEXT] Rio Ferdinand ranks Manchester United star Marcus Rashford against Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland
England forward Marcus Rashford has scored 18 goals in 30 matches for Manchester United this season.
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford (left) and Rio Ferdinand. (Image: Getty Images and FIVE podcast)
Manchester United favourite Rio Ferdinand reckons Marcus Rashford has some work to do before he can be compared to PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe – but has argued Erling Haaland is the only man whose current form can be compared to the rejuvenated England forward’s.
Rashford has been red hot in front of goal for club and country this campaign. He has totted-up 18 goals from 30 games in all competitions and was on target three times for England at the World Cup.
It has led some observers to compare what Rashford does for United to Mbappe with PSG, while Manchester City striker Haaland has netted a staggering 25 goals from his first 19 outings in the Premier League alone after his £51million transfer from Borussia Dortmund during the summer window.
Speaking about Rashford on his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand said: “I think [improved] fitness is a massive key. The ability with Marcus has always been there, but the big question was would he be able to get enough goals to really elevate him to that top echelon.
“Something to make him sit at that top table with the Mbappes and so on. I’m not saying he is there yet, but [seeing] what he’s doing now you have to put him up there as, probably, the most in-form striker in the world along with [Erling] Haaland. Crazy.”
Ferdinand added: “He has come back from the World Cup and it seems like a new version of Marcus Rashford. We have seen this in glimpses, in fits and starts, but it is this consistency now that has made people sit up and go; ‘Woah, actually, this guy is really serious’.
SOURCE: thepeoplesperson.com, manchestereveningnews.co.uk
