Arsenal want Adrien Rabiot but prefer to wait until summer whilst Newcastle United focus on a January move for the Juventus man.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who claim that Arsenal and Chelsea are right in the race for Rabiot.
However, they currently prefer to try and sign Rabiot on a free transfer in the summer, when his Juventus contract ends.
The problem for Arsenal and Chelsea is that Newcastle are ready to make a push in January, rendering their summer hopes pointless.
Newcastle have allegedly ‘lifted their pressure’ in the race for Rabiot and are prepared to make him a ‘rich offer’.
Additionally, Juventus can’t really give Rabiot a new deal right now.
The club’s financial problems in the wake of their entire board resigning earlier this month mean a new contract for Rabiot just isn’t happening.
You have to imagine that any transfer fee for Rabiot will be modest at this point, given that he can move for nothing very soon.
Rabiot still a risk for Arsenal or Newcastle
Rabiot is having a strong World Cup, playing a vital role in France’s midfield alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Antoine Griezmann.
Yet the 27-year-old still feels like a big risk for anybody moving in to sign him.
Rabiot was considered to be a real talent for some time but never really lived up to the billing at Paris Saint-Germain despite making 227 appearances.
Rabiot’s time at Juventus hasn’t exactly been a roaring success since his 2019 move but he is in his best form this term, bagging five goals in 16 games.
That form coupled with a strong World Cup has the air of a player trying to put himself in the shop window for a big contract.
The last few years don’t really suggest that Rabiot deserves a huge deal and it’s almost a surprise to see Newcastle linked so heavily given their calm and careful transfer approach.
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