Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot set to become a free agent | OneFootball

Long-term Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot’s contract is set to expire today with little expectation of a renewal with Juventus before the Frenchman becomes a free agent, according to a report from Italy.

Corriere dello Sport reveals “unless there are twists and turns” the 29-year-old midfielder will not mirror his movements last summer, which saw him sign a contract extension as his previous deal was set to expire.

The Italian outlet contends Rabiot has not expressed a response publicly over his future in Turin, “whether positive or negative”, and believes this silence “marks a distance between him and the club.”

Juventus have offered the French international – currently representing his country at Euro 2024, making any potential contract negotiations even more protracted – a two-year deal worth €7.5 million a year.

However, with Rabiot set to turn 30 next season, this next step in his career represents his last meaningful opportunity to secure a financially lucrative wage packet. As such, he will likely want to test the free agency market to see if a better salary, with a potential signing-on bonus, can be found elsewhere.

The Red Devils have a long-standing interest in Rabiot with reports linking him to a move to Old Trafford dating back to 2022 – Erik ten Hag’s first summer at the helm in Manchester.

Now, it appears the club are ready to revisit this transfer as the Dutch manager seeks to overhaul his aging midfield unit.

At 32 years of age respectively, both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen look set to depart Old Trafford this summer. United will likely need at least two signings in their place to strengthen an area of the pitch which was a considerable source of weakness last season.

The club have been strongly linked with a move for Joao Neves, Benfica’s midfield starlet, though any potential move is likely to be too costly this summer.

Amadou Onana, Everton’s midfield behemoth, is also another long-term target while Manuel Ugarte, PSG’s Uruguayan enforcer, has emerged in the last week as another prospective signing, if a reasonable price can be agreed.

United’s budget this summer is likely to be constrained, however, due to the acute pressure of the Premier League’s profits and sustainability rules (PSR). This makes the likelihood of Old Trafford executives having enough financial flexibility to sign two midfielders on big deals distinctly remote.

As such, a signing of an experienced international like Rabiot on a free would constitute a prudent piece of business. But, from tomorrow, the Frenchman will be able to agree such a deal with any club looking to strike a similar bargain and, therefore, United will have to move fast to secure his services.

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