Erik ten Hag has been warned to not use Adrien Rabiot at the base of his midfield as the Frenchman closes in on a move to Manchester United.
With a deal for top target Frenkie de Jong stalling, Rabiot has emerged as an alternative option. Midfield is one of the weakest areas in the Red Devils squad, with Fred and Scott McTominay starting the defeat to Brighton.
But the duo found themselves totally dominated by the Seagulls, with Fred hauled off in the second-half. Their disastrous showing has led to Ten Hag renewing efforts to add to his options in the middle of the park, with Rabiot appearing most likely to join.
He is close to agreeing a £15million move from Juventus to link up with Ten Hag's men. And despite his problems in central midfield, France boss Didier Deschamps has warned that playing him as a pivot would be a mistake.
“I ask myself the question in this terms: what is best for the team? What is its interest? How can I win the next match? Adrien is back at a very good level with Juve and, contrary to what a lot of people think, I have not crossed him out," he told France Football.
"He is best in a three man midfield, on the left or on the right, but not at the base. Aside from that, this is like Paul (Pogba), it is just a question of adaptation if he plays in a two in front of the defence. He scores less and he is less decisive than Paul, but he has the same capacity to project forward and he possesses the necessary technical quality.”
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Rabiot has made 29 appearances for France, all of which have come under the management of Deschamps. In recent years, he has been deployed more as a left midfielder than in the centre.
As well as the warning from Deschamps, United are also facing derision for the decision to make a move for a player Juve are desperate to let go. Former Manchester City star Micah Richards is one former star to slam the potential deal.
"It’s just desperation isn’t it, you get to this time of the window and you think Frenkie de Jong - it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. It might still happen to be honest, might not it’s dead in the water but everyday you read a different article and the situation with Barcelona," he told BBC Five Live.
"But the thing with Man United is so frustrating, there doesn’t seem to be a plan, it seems to be desperation and let’s get bodies in for the sake of it so it looks like we’re oding something.
"The players they’re linked with Arnautovic and Rabiot aren’t actually good players, I see them as squad players, they need to be bringing in big name players who can take the club forward.
"I don’t like picking out players but they’re so naive in midfield, you’ve got Fred and McTominay, McTominay should’ve been sent off by the way and then Fred goes to close someone down - fair play he tries to run back and stop the goal, but he’s not checked his shoulder once. Ten Hag has got a bigger job than he thought he had."
