Chelsea could have a very obvious replacement for N'Golo Kante lined up. The Blues are looking to strengthen their midfield in 2023 as they face the very real prospect of losing both Jorginho and his teammate for free when they reach the end of their current deals.
The pair are both seen as replaceable at the current stage of their careers and contingency plans are in place, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham at the top of the list for new players in the centre of the park. The England duo would be an expensive buy though, especially with further recruitment needed in defence and attack as well.
To combat that, Todd Boehly was keen to look for alternative options over the summer, and may well revisit previous players in order to get the best mix of depth and quality. On the list of those that didn't make a move last summer but may well still end up at Stamford Bridge in 2023 is Adrian Rabiot.
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The Juventus man has just over six months left on his current contract and appears surplus to requirements, with the Italians keen on getting a return for his services. Having signed him on a free themselves in 2019 there was hope of making some extra cash, but that didn't come to fruition.
Manchester United were the closest, having agreed a deal with the 27-year-old but his wage demands put them off, and Chelsea, though in a position to make a move, chose against pursuing the Frenchman. Half a year on and the midfield situation at Stamford Bridge has worsened with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic struggling with their own fitness, Jorginho still unable to fill the void in front of defence and Kante having been out since August.
Moving into the New Year there is a need for the position to be sorted out in the short and long-term. With European acumen, and a good start to the season in Serie A being built upon by a solid World Cup so far, Rabiot is back in the mix, and has been speaking about his future in Qatar.
Speaking to ESPN, he admitted his love for the Premier League, saying, "I feel attracted by the football, by the Premier League itself and its super competitive nature. I loved my time there, even if I was young. I liked the culture and the life; my family liked it too."
Rabiot spent one year in Manchester City's youth academy before moving on, and he revealed that there is scope for him returning.
He added: "I am not indifferent to playing in England, but there will be many options to consider. I have not spoken with Juve about the future, for example as our start to the season was tough, plus the World Cup was coming and I wanted to focus on it. After the World Cup, I will start thinking about my future more concretely.
The Frenchman has three goals and two assists from midfield for the Old Lady in Serie A this season and has acted as a senior member of an otherwise youthful area of the pitch with Aurelien Tchouameni and Edouardo Camavinga around him.
Had Kante or Paul Pogba been fit to play then his role may well have been significantly reduced, but he has so far taken his chance well in Qatar, scoring and assisting once in the four matches.
With Chelsea looking for their own solutions, Rabiot may be called upon to replace Kante yet again.
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