Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a cut-price January deal for Adrien Rabiot as Juventus look to offload their midfielder.
Earlier this week, the Magpies confirmed the appointment of new head coach Eddie Howe to replace the sacked Steve Bruce. Howe faces an uphill task of helping the Magpies avoid relegation from the top flight and is expected to be backed heavily by the club’s new Saudi owners in the upcoming transfer window.
According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot could be one of the first signings the newly-minted Newcastle United look to make in the January transfer window. The report the Turin giants want to trim their hefty wage bill and would be ready to offload Rabiot, who is valued at around €15 million.
Rabiot, 26, joined Juventus on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain and despite being a mainstay in the side since his performance levels haven’t been up to the mark. Overall, the Frenchman, who has a contract with the Old Lady until 2023, has made 95 appearances in all formats, supplying with six goals and five assists.
Adrien Rabiot to Newcastle United – A solid midfield signing for Eddie Howe?
Cash-rich Newcastle United want to push forward with their recruitment drive in 2022 and the midfield is one of the key areas they have seemingly prioritised strengthening.
The performances of Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Ryan Fraser haven’t been great in the Magpies midfield this season. Shelvey, who is set to turn 30 in February, has become injury-prone in the last couple of years while the likes of Hayden and Longstaff haven’t been consistent at all.
To put things into perspective, Adrien Rabiot’s days at Juventus seem to be numbered but he could arrive at Newcastle as an inspired addition to their midfield ranks in the New Year. Rabiot can play in different positions across the midfield, and his technical skills on the ball, tactical versatility and vision would make him a significant upgrade on the Magpies current midfield pairing of Hayden and Shelvey.
The France international may have not played to his full potential at Juventus, but he has the qualities to make an immediate impact at Newcastle, and given that he has been playing European football for a long time now, the transition from Serie A to the Premier League could be smooth.
There is a clear need to add some quality players into the squad, and an experienced, versatile midfielder in the ilk of Rabiot who should hit his prime years soon could do wonders for Newcastle United. Rated at around €15 million, the 26-year-old could prove to be a snip for Eddie Howe and co. in today’s market.