According to Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sports and David Ornstein of The Athletic, Manchester United’s move for Adrien Rabiot is now “highly unlikely to materialise”, with the French international reportedly asking the Red Devils for an £8.4 million annual salary (£160,000 per week). Erik ten Hag’s men had seemingly turned the majority of their attention to Rabiot, following the Old Trafford football director John Murtough’s flight to Italy to help expedite the transfer.
Manchester United Now ‘Highly Unlikely’ to Sign Adrien Rabiot Despite Fee Being Agreed
🚨 Adrien Rabiot to Man Utd now highly unlikely. Gap in wage offer/expectation mean move not happening as things stand. Live talks over other options such as Casemiro. De Jong improbable but #MUFC hope to get a top midfielder before deadline @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/pKojDR5GHM
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 16, 2022
Manchester United Target Alternatives as Transfer Stalls
The proposed transfer of Rabiot to Manchester United has stalled despite a fee being agreed between themselves and Juventus. Even with the two clubs agreeing on a deal, the Red Devils have been unable to arrange personal terms with the French midfielder.
Due to the stalling of this deal, United have begun to explore other options, with the Old Trafford hierarchy looking at Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro as a possible alternative. A revival cannot be ruled out according to The Athletic, but Ten Hag’s men are looking at others to bolster their central midfield.
Read More: Manchester United in ‘Live Talks’ Over ‘Monster’ Midfielder After Latest Failure
According to the same Athletic report, they were prepared to place Rabiot amongst Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen as one of their top earners. However, negotiations with the Frenchman’s agent and mother Veronique Rabiot have led to wage demands that the club were not happy to meet.
🚨 Adrien Rabiot's agent and mother's strategy is clear: either holding Manchester United over a barrel works and they move or they are happy to become a free agent next summer.
(Source: @DiMarzio) pic.twitter.com/iocgOS94yl
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 17, 2022
Disaster on and off the Pitch
Manchester United’s pursuit of Frenkie de Jong remains open, but his arrival at Old Trafford is not looking likely, with the player reportedly preferring a move to Chelsea if he decides to leave Barcelona.
The Dutch international has been patiently pursued all summer, and with Rabiot’s wage demands stalling that deal, it has been a nightmare few weeks on and off the pitch for the Red half of Manchester.
