Adrien Rabiot has emerged has a favourite candidate to become Manchester United’s fourth signing in the summer transfer window. The news was met with relief from Juventus supporters, though striking a deal may not be plain sailing.
In his newsletter for Caught Offside, Italian journalist and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reveals that the France international isn’t willing to lower his wages to join United.
This shouldn’t be much of an issue since United shift a lot of players out amid expiring contracts to free up more money for wages, furthermore a lot of the players were hit with a salary cut after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Romano reports: “Rabiot is interested in a move to the Premier League, but does not want to reduce his salary from the current €7m net per year he makes at Juve – negotiations are underway.”
Rabiot, 27, earns a net salary of €7 million per season, and he doesn’t think he should take a pay cut for a club that isn’t challenging in Europe’s biggest competition.
If that’s the price United need to pay for incompetence, so be it. I’m so over the transfer window and simply want it to shut again for another few months.
Romano explains that Juventus and United have already reached an agreement over the transfer. That means the club now needs to find an agreement with the player’s mum and agent Veronique.
SN’s verdict
Rabiot and his agent know United are desperate and I don’t see this demand being a stumbling block.
However, in most cases, a player transferring from Serie A to Premier League would receive a pay rise – but I don’t think Rabiot’s form over the past 12 months deserves that.
The Frenchman would be an improvement on what we have, but will Ten Hag be able to handle him and his agent? That’s the big question.