Arsenal are reportedly 'ready' to make their first move to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in January rather than waiting for his contract to expire in the summer. The Gunners are understood to be keen for a new midfielder next month to add cover to Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey as they seek their first Premier League table since 2004.
Rabiot, 27, enters the final six months of his contract in Italy in January, opening the door to overseas clubs to discuss a pre-contract agreement for the summer. It's expected that the France international will not extend his stay at the Juventus Stadium and will have a queue of possible suitors to choose from.
The Gunners have been said to be keen on adding a new midfielder to Mikel Arteta's squad due to injury concerns to Partey and Mohamed Elneny. Leicester City's Youri Tielemans has been a continual name linked but Rabiot has become a strong contender following his performances at the Qatar World Cup.
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After failing to complete a move to Manchester United in the summer, the 27-year-old faces the prospect of being sold in January to ensure The Old Lady recoup a transfer fee and Arsenal could make the most of the opportunity. According to Italian outlet La Repubblica (via 101 Great Goals), the Gunners are 'ready' to negotiate a move next month instead of next summer.
The story claims Juve will request €15million (£13.2million) for the midfielder, which is €10million less than CIES Football Observatory's valuation. However, Rabiot's €192,307k-per-week (£169,321) wage demand is likely to be a stumbling block in the deal.
The Gunners are not alone in their pursuit of the midfielder with Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool all keen. There is also the necessity of convincing Juve to sanction the deal, with the report also suggesting Massimiliano Allgeri wants to keep hold of him for the rest of his deal.
Rabiot's potential move to north London comes after Arteta met with the Kroenkes in the US ahead of the January transfer window. The Arsenal head coach revealed earlier today that the ambition and alignment between himself and the club owners was there, hinting at welcomed winter business.
"We are always connected. I think that relationship is getting stronger and stronger. They’ve been over a few times and we’ve been there a few times.
"It’s a very special relationship right now to understand the way they think about sports, what they’ve done in other sports and with other franchises. The ambition is there and the alignment is certainly there as well. It’s certainly positive to spend some time together," he said in his pre-West Ham press conference.
"It was the time that we had some spare time as well. It was very useful for everybody to do it in that period."
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