Manchester United director of football is a man under pressure. This was an important transfer window where the club has so far let down new manager Erik ten Hag.
The club’s next move is to attempt to secure a deal for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The Guardian report a fee has been agreed at £15 million.
John Murtough is now set to attempt to close the deal. The Telegraph report he is set to fly out to agree personal terms with Rabiot’s agent mother Veronique.
The report adds: “Ten Hag has told Rabiot how keen he is to join United with Juventus having sanctioned the conversation once an agreement was reached.”
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Murtough set to fly to out
Ten Hag’s approval in all this is crucial. If he is happy with Adrien Rabiot, then Manchester United fans should support the move.
French journalist Julien Laurens also reported yesterday that Ten Hag had spoken with Rabiot on the phone and the conversation was a ‘good one’.
The deal now rests with Murtough. He is set to meet Rabiot’s mother, who has a controversial reputation for getting involved in club business, previously at PSG.
These negotiations should normally go smoothly, but with Murtough’s relative inexperience, this could end up going south very quickly.
Rabiot’s desire to leave Juventus and quench a long-held desire to move to the Premier League, may simply be enough to get the negotiations done without a hitch.
United have to be very careful not to overpay. Rabiot was on an expensive contract with Juventus after signing as a free agent in 2019, and it is unlikely he would want to take a wage drop to sign with United.
Rabiot would be United’s fourth summer signing, following Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, and Lisandro Martinez, and would be the exception, as the only one who hasn’t played in the Eredivisie. This in itself shows a willingness by Erik ten Hag to expand his targets.
Even if Rabiot wasn’t United’s first, second or third midfield choice, he will add depth to the club’s options, and perhaps, won’t be the only addition in the position before the end of the window.
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