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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Nathan Ridley

Adrien Rabiot has already given Man Utd transfer answer as club chiefs 'make contact'

Adrien Rabiot has already told Manchester United that he'd like to play in the Premier League with the Red Devils currently in talks with his representatives regarding a transfer.

The French midfielder, 28, is set to be a free agent come July 1, as his contract with Juventus is due to expire. With no new deal in sight, the Athletic reports that United chiefs have made contact and rekindled their interest after opting to walk away from negotiations last summer because of Rabiot's extravagant wage demands.

Despite his struggles over three mixed seasons in Turin, the 28-year-old wanted parity with some of the Red Devils' best-paid players, a demand which Old Trafford officials weren't prepared to bend to. Since then, Rabiot has enjoyed his most fourth and most productive campaign in a troubled Juventus side, scoring 11 goals and registering six assists across 48 games in all competitions.

But the France international has constantly been weighing up his next move, knowing that Juve likely can't afford to keep him on the same salary due to their well-documented financial issues. Whilst being a regular starter for his country during the World Cup, the Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate declared: "I have always said that I'd like to play in England in my career.

"I still have that desire. I'd like to evolve in the Premier League. I haven't got a Premier League team in mind right now. I haven't chosen a team or anything. It's a general thing. It's the league, it's the level of play that's going on, that's what attracts me most. It corresponds to my qualities."

There's a sense of unfinished business for Rabiot when it comes to the Premier League, particularly in Manchester. At the age of 13, he had a spell with Manchester City before being snapped up by PSG.

It was a move believed to be orchestrated by his mother, Veronique, who to this day has a great deal of sway over her son's career. Veronique was who United football director John Murtough negotiated with last summer, having flown to Turin to strike a £13million agreement with Juventus.

Adrien Rabiot is set to become a free agent at the end of June (Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Have your say! Should Manchester United sign Adrien Rabiot? Give us your verdict in the comments section.

The Red Devils soon decided to pull out of talks, instead focussing their efforts on signing Casemiro from Real Madrid to bolster their midfield. With Rabiot now set to be available on a free transfer, United may well be more open to giving him an eye-watering salary.

Rivals Liverpool were recently linked with interest but when Rabiot last commented on his future in March, he insisted that was happy in Turin and confirmed that he'd hold talks with Juve regarding a contract extension. "At the moment, there's no news, but we'll certainly talk soon," Rabiot told Tuttosport.

"Because in about two months the season will be over and we'll try to discuss it, but I'm calm. There is the possibility of leaving but also the possibility of signing another contract with Juve for all the reasons I have explained." He added: "I feel good in Turin, I do a good job at the club and there's a good relationship with the directors, my team-mates and the coach [Massimiliano Allegri].

"He also helped me in two years as well as giving me a lot of confidence. I believe that all of this is important to feel good and therefore make the right choice for my future."

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