Manchester United’s chase for a midfielder has led the club towards Adrien Rabiot. A £15 million move has been agreed with Juventus for the France international.
It’s hard to find a Manchester United fan excited about the 27-year-old’s addition. Rabiot is an uninspired target, who has failed to set the world alight at a declining Juventus over the past three seasons.
The deal is a cheap one, and this is likely what’s attractive to United. But there was a cheaper deal available 18 months earlier for Moises Caicedo.
The midfielder signed for Brighton for £4.5 million in 2021, and for the second game running, helped inspire the Seagulls to a move over the Red Devils this past weekend.
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Three Premier League deals Manchester United may regret not making
Adrien Rabiot will arrive at Manchester United with a real point to prove. He will also be judged up against players who the club passed on this summer.
Here is a look at three midfielders signed by Premier League clubs this summer who Manchester United could regret not signing, and plumping for Rabiot instead.
JOAO PALHINHA: Fulham snapped up Joao Palhinha from Sporting for just £20 million in a highly impressive piece of business.
The timing of the deal was also laudable. The deal was completed by July 4, in time for the club’s pre-season. This was a frustrating aspect of the deals United did complete, with only one player signed in time for the overseas tour.
Palhinha is a Portugal international who is the same age as Rabiot at 27. His existing relationship with Bruno Fernandes could have been a positive for United in midfield.
In his opening Premier League game at the weekend, Palhinha impressed as Fulham drew with Liverpool, winning 4 tackles and 9 duels.
YVES BISSOUMA: Not competing for Yves Bissouma was an oversight on United’s part. An allegation was made against him which could have put the club off, but this was since dropped, The Mail reported.
Tottenham made the move, paying just £25 million for his signature. It’s possible United may have lost out, with the pull of Antonio Conte and Champions League football. What we know, is that the club did not even try.
Bissouma has been excellent in match-ups against United in recent seasons, a combative midfielder who is hard to play against. He would have made a big improvement to the club’s current options.
AMADOU ONANA: Struggling Everton have shown ambition in midfield which Manchester United have failed to show, paying big for a young, promising talent.
The Toffees have paid £33.7 million for Lille midfielder Amadou Onana, beating West Ham to the deal, The Mirror report.
Onana, 20, is a defensive midfielder who hails from Belgium, who is very highly rated. This type of forward-thinking move would have shown some direction from Manchester United’s perspective, rather than pursuing a short-term fix.