Man Utd ‘informed’ on deal conditions as Ten Hag targets French star he is a ‘big fan’ of
Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag remains interested in signing Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot after failing to land the Frenchman last summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Ten Hag targeted the 28-year-old during his first summer in charge of the Premier League club.
Negotiations proved to be very difficult, however, and a deal failed to materialise.
Supporters at Old Trafford seemed pretty opposed to the signing at the time, though, after a positive season under Ten Hag, they will probably trust his instinct with this one.
Rabiot’s agent – who happens to be his mother – is notoriously difficult to deal with. Her wage demands during talks with Man Utd in 2022 were the main reason the deal fell through.
The French international is out of contract at the end of June, which means the salary he and his mother ask for will probably be even more extortionate, given the lack of a transfer fee in a prospective deal.
Despite the hefty wages Rabiot is expected to ask for, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Ten Hag is still eager to sign the player.
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Writing in his CaughtOffside column, Romano said ‘there is still a chance’ Rabiot signs a new contract at Juventus, with more clarity on his future expected to come before the end of the week.
Juventus are ‘trying to keep’ the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, though the Italian giants are aware Premier League proposals will be a lot more appealing.
Romano claims Man Utd and Rabiot’s representatives held talks in May and the Red Devils ‘are informed’ on what the player ‘wants’.
Ten Hag ‘has always been a big fan’ of the 28-year-old, who scored eight and provided four assists in 32 Serie A matches in 2022/23.
Rabiot is not the only Serie A star Ten Hag is looking to sign this summer.
Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana also tickles the fancy of the Dutchman, who managed the player during their time at Ajax.
Onana has been strongly linked with Chelsea in recent months amid concerns over Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, who is on the brink of a move to Saudi Arabia.
The Evening Standard reported earlier this week that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have ended their pursuit of the Cameroonian shot-stopper, leaving Man Utd in a very strong position.
Romano says the Red Devils have ‘explored the conditions on Onana’s side’, but there are no ‘concrete’ talks at this moment in time.
Inter are expected to ask for around €60million and the Man Utd hierarchy will hope Ten Hag’s ‘good relationship’ with Onana will help drive their pursuit.
Red Devils No. 1 David De Gea is out of contract at the end of June and there have been talks over a new deal for quite some time now.
A contract extension seemed inevitable, but there are now major doubts, making the signing of a new goalkeeper a top priority for Ten Hag.
Romano adds that Porto’s Diogo Costa is another player the Dutch manager likes, though he has a €75m release clause and is unlikely to leave for anything less.
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