Man Utd can upgrade for FREE with midfielder better than Caicedo and Tonali

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 5 Jan 2024 09:22 GMT
• 10 min read

Adrien Rabiot’s contract situation at Juventus will be monitored by a string of leading Premier League clubs, with Manchester United likely to be foremost among those clubs as they seek to improve their midfield.

The France international is out of contract in June 2024 and is destined to become a free agent at that point should he fail to agree new terms with the Serie A leaders.

Boasting more than 10 years’ experience at the top level, despite being just 28, Rabiot was previously courted by Man Utd before a deal broke down over his wage demands.

Famous for his notoriously prickly agent and mother, Veronique Rabiot, he has been a leading protagonist in the rebirth of Juventus, scoring three and creating three in 16 Serie A matches this season.

How good is Adrien Rabiot?

According to data analytics firm SciSports, the box-to-box player rates as one of Italy’s very best central midfielders this season, and given the absence of a transfer fee next summer, this makes him highly attractive.

SciSports rate Rabiot above the likes of Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, a player the Blues spent €116m to acquire from Brighton in the summer, and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, who joined the Premier League side from Milan for €64m six months ago.

From Man Utd’s perspective, meanwhile, Rabiot would offer a far more attractive central midfield option than either Sofyan Amrabat or Christan Eriksen. Both of these players are similar in style to the former PSG youth, yet neither is close to his quality at present.

Rabiot vs Serie A midfielders: 2023/24

Similarly, clubs could look at him as an alternative to Khephren Thuram, the Nice midfielder who has attracted a good deal of transfer interest over the course of the last six months. Liverpool were particularly linked with Rabiot’s France teammate last summer.

Juventus are bullish over their prospects of retaining Rabiot by agreeing a new contract with him.

“We want to keep our best players,” director Cristiano Giuntoli told Mediaset on the subject of the Frenchman. “We are very optimistic to agree on new deal with Adrien, we will discuss about that in the next months. The relationship is excellent.”

Premier League clubs, including Man Utd, can open talks with Rabiot at their pleasure given he is into the last six months of his Juventus contract, but with the Italians eager to keep one of their key players, they may need to move swiftly.