Manchester City should look to re-sign Adrien Rabiot in 2019.
It’s difficult to improve on near perfection, but that’s the challenge facing Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side this season, with the title favourites already looking imperious.
City became the first ever Premier League team to hit 100 points last season, but Guardiola did pull off one major summer deal to boost his squad, by landing winger Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City.
Guardiola wanted to bring in a holding midfielder to compete with Fernandinho, but missed out on Chelsea new boy Jorginho, meaning 2019’s priority must be to find the Brazilian’s successor, given that he turns 34 next year.
Whilst Fernandinho is combative, Guardiola seemingly wants a playmaking holder, somewhat in the mould of Sergio Busquets, who of course was given his big break at Barcelona by Guardiola.
A number of players have been linked, but City should be looking to lure Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot back to the club, 10 years after he brought a six-month stay in Manchester to an end.
The 23-year-old midfielder joined City from Creteil in 2008 but returned to France quickly in mysterious circumstances according to the Daily Mail, before coming up through the ranks with PSG.
A classy midfielder with the technique and passing range Guardiola is looking for, Rabiot is out of contract next summer, and he could leave for free in a year’s time or be sold in a cut-price deal in January.
City should be looking to secure his services either way, with many wondering what might have been for Rabiot at the Etihad Stadium – and he would have the chance to show what he can do under Guardiola.
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