The transfer window is now closed so Manchester United’s squad has taken its final shape until January at the very least, or has it?
With the window open in other countries, like the Saudi Pro League, there are chances that the Manchester United squad could still see some changes.
Christian Eriksen has been tipped for a move to Belgium, while Saudi clubs’ money might tempt a player or two more.
But what about incoming? Well, United can still sign players of a particular type and Fabrizio Romano has shared a major update on a player of precisely that type.
Fabrizio Romano on Man Utd-Adrien Rabiot
United can no longer make transfers from other clubs but they are still free to sign and register players who are not under contract.
Free agents, or unattached players are not restricted by the transfer deadline and Fabrizio Romano has shared that United have been offered one such player ‘several times’.
That player is Adrien Rabiot, the lynchpin of France’s midfield who was one of the stars of their run in the Euros.
He is currently a free agent after leaving Juventus and remains on the lookout for a club as a player who is in his peak years right now.
Romano said: “I can guarantee you that Adrien Rabiot has been offered to Manchester United several times over the summer, in July and August.
“The position of United has been very clear. They never thought about Eriksen out, and Rabiot in. But he’s one of the interesting names to follow.” [Rabiot comments start at 4.50]
The update is major because it implies that United didn’t commit to Rabiot because they didn’t account for Eriksen leaving, which could become a possibility now.
Adrien Rabiot addresses problem area
If the game against Liverpool said anything, it was that beyond Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, United’s midfield depth is tragic.
Mason Mount is unreliable, Casemiro sets new lows every week, Toby Collyer is undercooked right now, and Scott McTominay has been sold.
Therefore, there’s not a single reliable option beyond the first-choice pairing, and even in that, Ugarte is a complete unknown right now.
Rabiot brings a wealth of experience along with the exact kind of profile United need to add to their squad, even more so if Eriksen leaves.
As it stands, even if the Dane stays, it is clear that he’s not a good fit for Ten Hag’s hard-running, front-pressing style of play in midfield, especially in a deep pivot.
United freed up nearly £300k/week in wages with the deadline day departure of Jadon Sancho and multiple other high-profile departures added to it.
Furthermore, it is feasible that Rabiot would have dropped his own demands after being without a club for the entirety of the window.
If there is a deal to be done on mutually agreeable terms, then it is one United should definitely pursue despite their stance throughout the summer.
That is because things have changed massively in the space of just three league games.
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