Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd stun Liverpool, Newcastle after making ‘direct contact’ with France international

Theo Hernandez, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot

Liverpool and Newcastle are showing ‘concrete’ interest in a France international, but it’s Erik ten Hag and Man Utd who’ve leapt into action with ‘direct contact’ made, per a report.

The midfielder Man Utd settled on signing last summer was Casemiro, though the Brazilian was by no means Ten Hag’s first choice in the position.

Indeed, a long and drawn out pursuit of Frenkie de Jong ultimately ended in failure. Once that avenue closed, Man Utd quickly ramped up a deal to sign Juventus star, Adrien Rabiot.

A deal for the 37-times capped France international appeared there for the making until Rabiot’s mother priced her son out of a move.

Veronique Rabiot doubles up as Adrien’s agent and per Caught Offside, her demand her son be paid a post-tax salary of £113,000-a-week resulted in Man Utd pulling the plug.

Fast forward to present day and Rabiot’s future is once again coming under the microscope. However, given his contract is due to expire at season’s end, a move now stands a far greater chance of going through.

According to Italian outlet CalcioMercato, Rabiot is already courting ‘concrete’ interest, specifically from the Premier League.

The first club named is Newcastle who were linked with Rabiot back in the winter window of 2022. Rabiot’s Champions League experience could also prove invaluable to Newcastle who are primed to grace that competition for the first time since 2003 next year.

Elsewhere, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly ready to ‘bet a lot’ on signing Rabiot. In other words, the Reds are prepared to offer lucrative personal terms as part of their midfield rebuild.

However, both Newcastle and Liverpool appear to have been beaten to the punch by Man Utd.

Man Utd take Adrien Rabiot lead

CalcioMercato state the Red Devils have made a ‘new direct contact’ with the player’s camp. Given a transfer fee won’t be required, all it’ll take to sign Rabiot is an agreement on personal terms and a medical.

Man Utd’s transfer priority this summer is signing an elite-level centre-forward. However, once that piece of business is achieved, a new central midfielder will then take centre stage.

Rabiot has notched 11 goals and five assists in the current campaign and could be viewed as an upgrade on loanee Marcel Sabitzer. Signing a new midfielder will assume greater significance if either Scott McTominay or Fred are sold.

McTominay has a huge admirer in Eddie Howe up at Newcastle. TEAMtalk exclusively learned on Wednesday that Man Utd will listen to offers for Fred this summer too.

Adding fuel to the Rabiot to Man Utd fire is a report from French publication, RMC Sport.

They stated director of football John Murtough is keen to complete his unfinished business with Rabiot by bringing him to Old Trafford at the second time of asking.

RMC Sport also claimed a contract offer in the region of £160,000-a-week is in the pipeline and Veronique will speak with Man Utd in a matter of days.

Per CalcioMercato, those conversations have now begun.

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