Arsenal are rumoured to be keeping tabs on Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot, according to Pete O’Rourke.
Rabiot is set to be out of contract in the summer as his £149k-per-week deal enters the final six months.
The 27-year-old saw a move to Manchester United collapse in the summer over apparent wage demands which at the time seemed a blessing for the Red Devils, but the centre-midfielder has since played a key role in Turin scoring five times in 16 games, starting every game he’s been available for.
The past months have seen a shift in the reputation of Rabiot who seems to have recovered his career this season, journalist O’Rourke told This Is Futbol that top clubs including Arsenal are watching his contract situation.
“He’s not had a dull career, Adrien Rabiot, it’s pretty fair to say that he found himself out of favour in the France squad for such a long time, I think more just because of off-field issues rather than his actual performances.
“But he’s now back in there, he does seem to be playing well, just at the right time when his contract is coming to an end at Juventus so I’m sure that will bring other teams to the table to potentially sign Adrien Rabiot.
“And as I said, he’s played for some top clubs at the highest level, Arsenal are in the market for a central midfielder, so I think Arsenal will be keeping tabs.”
TIF Thoughts on Rabiot to Arsenal…
A move on paper does make sense for Arsenal with him able to negotiate as a free agent in January and his vast European experience potentially key for a young Gunners side set to head into the Champions League next season.
His form has seen him nail down a place in France’s World Cup squad with him starting both wins against Australia and Denmark as they confirmed top spot with a game to spare, even scoring and assisting against the Aussies.
But question marks will be left over whether he’s the right personality fit for a close-knit Arsenal squad, previous off-field problems involving his mother and agent have seen him burn bridges at Paris Saint-Germain and earlier at France, Mikel Arteta won’t want to ruin what he’s built.