Liverpool are reportedly targeting a midfielder who has yet to renew his contract with his current club, aiming to bring in the player this summer and make him Arne Slot’s first signing at Anfield.
Slot has officially been introduced as Liverpool’s new manager, following an announcement over a month ago that he would replace Jurgen Klopp.
The Dutchman now needs to evaluate his current squad and identify potential reinforcements to guide Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League in the coming years.
With Michael Edwards returning to a more prominent role and Richard Hughes appointed as the new sporting director, Liverpool are well-equipped with transfer expertise. This has already led to numerous headlines about potential new signings.
Arda Guler and Nico Williams, both of whom have performed well in Euro 2024, are among the players linked with a move to Anfield this summer.
However, it is still unclear how much Liverpool is willing to spend in the coming months. They may instead focus on securing bargain deals, starting with one particular midfielder.
According to Sport Italia, Liverpool are considering a move for Adrien Rabiot, who has yet to accept any of Juventus’ new contract offers and is likely to leave the Italian club as a free agent this summer.
This would be a bargain move for the Reds, who would only need to cover the Frenchman’s reported £146k-a-week salary without paying a transfer fee.
However, the Premier League giants face competition from Real Madrid, who are also interested in Rabiot. In a familiar trend, the Champions League winners could potentially swoop in and deny Liverpool another transfer target.
“Extraordinary” Rabiot Would Unleash Mac Allister
Although Wataru Endo unexpectedly emerged as a key player for Klopp last season, he and Alexis Mac Allister are the only ones who can effectively play the defensive midfield role.
Slot should avoid limiting Mac Allister in this position. Instead, the priority should be finding another option, and Rabiot could be the solution.
| League stats 23/24 (via FBref) | Adrien Rabiot | Wataru Endo |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive Carries | 72 | 10 |
| Progressive Passes | 120 | 101 |
| Tackles Won | 39 | 28 |
| Ball Recoveries | 150 | 108 |
While Endo’s abilities on the ball are somewhat limited, Rabiot excelled in this area last season while still fulfilling his defensive duties.
With a resume that includes Serie A and Ligue 1 titles, along with several other accolades, Rabiot could be the crucial addition needed for Liverpool’s midfield overhaul.
Rabiot has received considerable acclaim during his tenure at Juventus, notably from the legendary David Trezeguet, who expressed his admiration in an interview with Football Italia via Juve FC:
“We are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France it’s completely different.
“He is world class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”
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