Barcelona Backed To Sign Ligue 1 Midfield Ace: Is The Move Likely?

According to latest reports from Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are closing in on the capture of Adrien Rabiot. The PSG midfielder is expected to leave the club this summer after failing to reach an agreement regarding a new contract and a move to Spain could be on the horizon.

The Frenchman apparently wants pay parity with another midfield superstar in Marco Verratti, reports suggest. The Italian playmaker currently earns around £133,000-per-week and sources believe Rabiot is looking for that exact same paycheck but negotiations haven’t really taken any shape thus far.

This has alerted the interest of FC Barcelona, who are poised to make a midfield overhaul this summer. Veteran skipper Andres Iniesta called an end to his illustrious career at the end of last season. And the loss of the former Spanish international will be a huge blow for the Catalans.

Barcelona have also sold Paulinho just one year after signing him from China. The Brazilian has moved back to his former club Guangzhou Evergrande in a shocking loan deal. In addition, Portuguese starlet Andre Gomes has endured a tough spell at Catalonia and reports have been rife regarding his potential transfer elsewhere. Roma and Inter Milan have already shown a keen interest in the services of the former Valencia midfielder.

Therefore, Adrien Rabiot is indeed a viable target for the Spanish giants as they aim to reshape their squad for next season. At this moment, Barca are pretty limited when it comes to midfield resources with Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic being the only reliable options in central midfield. That being said, Rakitic is already linked with a move out of Camp Nou this summer with Bayern Munich making strong advances.

Rabiot, on the other hand, has an ample amount of experience in the European top flight football, having played over 200 competitive matches with PSG. During his time at the French capital, the midfielder has won four French titles along with three French league cups. Therefore, he’s not a stranger when it comes to winning silverware either, which is largely synonymous with a club like Barcelona.

His industry in midfield coupled with his ball circulation could help Ernesto Valverde’s side become more fluent in their build-up play. Additionally, the Frenchman is also known for his intelligence, making him a unique component in the middle third of the pitch.

Rabiot’s current deal with PSG expires at the end of next season, meaning Barcelona won’t have to shell out a big money move either, making him an ideal candidate as the Catalan giants look to make an impression in Europe in the forthcoming campaign.