Newcastle United are reportedly the front-runners in the race to sign Chelsea and Liverpool target Adrien Rabiot ahead of the January transfer window.
Newcastle United are the favourites to land Juventus and France midfield star Adrien Rabiot, who is also a target for Liverpool and Chelsea. That is as reported by Sport Witness, with the Magpies “above all” in the race to sign the 27-year-old Frenchman.
Rabiot has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time now. The French international was set to join the Red Devils after Manchester United agreed a price with Juventus for him. However, Rabiot’s agents demanded eye-watering wages, and the Red Devils backed out of a deal to sign the midfielder.
While Manchester United supporters blasted the rumours at the time and Juventus fans were keen to see him depart, the midfielder has managed to turn the tables. Juventus have struggled for form so far this season and have already been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in humiliating fashion.
However, Rabiot is having one of his most productive campaigns in Turin. He has established himself as a first-team regular in Massimiliano Allegri’s side this season and has already bagged five goals in 16 games.
His all-action midfield displays have been the driving force behind their recent revival in Serie A, with Juventus now only two points behind second-placed AC Milan. That said, the 27-year-old faces an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium as his contract is due to expire next summer.
Juventus have been in discussions with the Frenchman about a new contract. However, the Bianconeri are said to have been “surprised” by the player’s pay demands. Recent reports have pointed at a power struggle at the club’s board level, which could force the Italian club to cash in on their top players as early as the January transfer window.
Needless to say, a player of Rabiot’s stature has plenty of suitors in the transfer market, especially from the Premier League, with Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea vying to secure his services.
Newcastle United, for one, are expected to splash out in the January transfer window as they look to consolidate their top-four position in the Premier League table after making tremendous progress under the management of Eddie Howe.
Rabiot would bring with him a wealth of top-level experience. But his high wage demands may prove to be a big stumbling block for the transfer to Newcastle to go ahead unless he is willing to take a substantial pay cut.
One team that should have no problem satisfying the player’s salary demands are Chelsea. The Blues were interested in signing the French midfielder over the summer but ended up signing Denis Zakaria on loan from Juventus on transfer deadline day. Chelsea look set to revisit their interest in the French international, with Graham Potter looking to bolster his midfield options.
Liverpool also have a midfield conundrum to solve, with current options ageing and injury prone, while some will soon be out of contract. Singing someone like Rabiot will bring hunger, quality, energy, and composure to their engine room, which they have massively lacked this season. For now, Newcastle are ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to sign Rabiot.
