Manchester United have pulled the plug on signing Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the latest dramatic development in a chaotic summer transfer window at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Frenchman was identified by new manager Erik ten Hag as an alternative to top target Frenkie de Jong. But Rabiot's wages demands have led to the deal - believed to be worth £15.2m - collapsing. It's despite Red Devils football director John Murtough personally flying out to Turin in effort to successfully conclude negotiations.
The France international's outspoken mother-agent Veronique was in advanced talks with Murtough but now United will move to pursue other midfield targets. The Athletic claim that Old Trafford chiefs were prepared to put Rabiot alongside some of the top earners at the club such as such as Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen.
But Veronique is believed to have demanded an even higher salary and the Red Devils were unwilling to meet it. Their report adds that Real Madrid stalwart Casemiro is on United's list of alternatives, while Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is mentioned as being pushed towards Manchester. It's added by the Guardian that while the deal for Rabiot could be revived, Murtough views such a change of course as unlikely.
Ten Hag is desperate to upgrade his midfield, particularly after the Red Devils suffered back-to-back defeats to begin their Premier League campaign and new era under the Dutchman. United were smashed 4-0 by Brentford in humiliating fashion on Saturday, following up last weekend's 2-1 loss at home to Brighton.
Reinforcements are now a must at Old Trafford, with Ten Hag admitting after his side's most recent embarrassment: "We need new players. We need quality players. We are working on that and we'll do everything to convince them to come." De Jong is one of those, but the Barcelona star isn't willing to leave Catalunya without receive around £14m worth of wages which were deferred during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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PSV Eindhoven prodigy Cody Gakpo and Ajax ace Antony are two wingers who Ten Hag likes, while star striker Cristiano Ronaldo now free to leave after weeks of pining for a move - but only if the Red Devils receive a substantial offer. Meanwhile, Barcelona right-back Sergino Dest and Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha have also been tipped for moves.
United's stance on Rabiot follows their decision to pull out of a move for Marko Arnautovic last week following complaints from supporters about the Austrian's racism accusations. Ten Hag has been able to sign three players so far; free agent Eriksen, left-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and centre-back Lisandro Martinez from former club Ajax.
