Man Utd target could snub Ten Hag for a third time as Bayern join race

Tom Weber

• Updated: 9 Feb 2024 18:21 GMT
• 4 min read

Bayern Munich have added Adrien Rabiot to their shortlist of midfield targets, according to German media.

The Juventus star is, once again, out of contract in the summer, having already been in a similar position in each of the past two years. In both summers, Man Utd were keen to acquire the Frenchman, with Erik ten Hag reportedly a big fan of the midfielder.

Both times, however, Man Utd were reportedly unable to offer quite what Rabiot and his mother and agent Veronique demanded, leading to him signing successive one-year extensions with Juventus.

Man Utd are once again said to be eyeing a free-transfer move for the 28-year-old and the incoming funds from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will certainly help them to offer a more attractive financial package, but they aren't the only ones keen on the experienced Serie A star.

Bayern enter the fray

According to BILD's Christian Falk, Bayern have added two new players to their shortlist of midfield targets. One is Federico Redondo of Argentinos Juniors, who is currently in talks with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. The other is Rabiot.

The Bavarians are keen to strengthen their centre of the park, with Thomas Tuchel already having demanded a new midfielder in the summer but not receiving one after Joao Palhinha's Deadline Day move from Fulham fell through.

According to Falk, the Portuguese is also still on Bayern's wishlist, as is Martin Zubimendi. The Real Sociedad star has been heavily linked with a switch to Arsenal, but FootballTransfers and Anfield Watch exclusively revealed on Thursday that Liverpool are now also in for him.

As for Rabiot, given how inconsistent Man Utd have been this season, there is every chance that Ten Hag and company could miss out on Champions League football, something that Bayern will certainly be able to offer even if they were to surrender their Bundesliga throne to Bayer Leverkusen this term.