Ten Hag ‘eager’ to seal Man Utd signing with answer ‘expected shortly’; Arsenal star ‘agrees’ to be replacement
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is keen to wrap up a deal to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer, according to reports.
The Red Devils are looking to secure at least one new midfielder this summer with Man Utd linked to numerous names.
A move for Declan Rice has been mooted with Ten Hag reportedly willing to part with either Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay in a part-exchange deal for the West Ham star.
However, that deal would prove expensive considering claims Man Utd have only given Ten Hag a £120m transfer budget for the summer transfer window, while the takeover is reportedly making it difficult for the Dutchman to sign any of his targets.
A more realistic signing could be Juventus’ Rabiot – who is out of contract at the end of month – with Italian publication Corriere dello Sport insisting that Ten Hag is ‘eager to make that transfer’ happen.
Ten Hag is worried about missing out on the Juventus midfielder after being close to signing him last summer before the deal fell through at the last minute.
Rabiot is said to be ‘assessing the situation and the opportunities’ with an answer ‘expected shortly’ as Rabiot looks to sign for a Champions League club.
And Juventus are ready to replace the France international with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey ‘coming back to the fore’ of the Italian side’s transfer thoughts.
The Ghana international has ‘already given the general OK’ to the transfer and the Corriere dello Sport claims Juventus have ‘offered the English club €18m’ for Partey’s services.
With Arsenal looking to sign at least two new midfielders this summer, Partey could find himself down the pecking order and he is now ‘willing to listen’ to offers to depart.
In another report, Sky Italia say that Partey ‘has already given the go-ahead for the transfer to Juventus’ with the Old Lady preparing a three-year contract.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed earlier this week that there has also been interest from Saudi Arabia in Partey.
“We could see a revolution in Arsenal’s midfield this summer. As well as Granit Xhaka, who is ready to join Bayer Leverkusen and just waiting for Arsenal to sign a replacement, I understand Thomas Partey could also be on the market this summer,” Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column.
“I’m told there are now conversations ongoing, and that there is a very concrete possibility for Partey to leave Arsenal, but it’s still not advanced and will only happen if a very good proposal arrives, whereas Xhaka is all but done and just waiting for the green light.”
He added: “With Partey, I’m aware there have already been some links with Saudi clubs, but my understanding is that they are currently focusing on other targets. Let’s see if things change and if they decide to attack the Partey situation in the next few weeks.
“I’m aware that some Arsenal fans have commented on this being a risky move by Arsenal, to let two top players, two experienced players, in Xhaka and Partey leave in the same summer, but personally I’ve always been a big fan of the Arsenal strategy and I’m sure they know what they’re doing.
“Sometimes it’s crucial to keep players when they’re fully motivated, but Xhaka wants a new chapter and that’s why he’s in advanced talks with Bayer Leverkusen.”
