Adrien Rabiot – Manchester United want to strengthen the team Adrien Rabiot and Marko Arnautovic after the eye-opener they had against Brighton.
On Sunday, Manchester United started the new season in the worst way possible, losing 1-2 to Brighton and Hove Albion. 25 minutes into the game and Manchester United were already caught so many times under pressure. Dalot, De Gea, and Fred had all given the ball away in United territory, without Brighton having to push too hard. In the end, it was Pascal Groß’s second goal in the 39th minute that decided the fate of the game, after United forced MacAllister into conceding an own goal through a corner.
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Adrien Rabiot
A few days before the match, United’s main man in the pre-season, Anthony Martial, got injured in training. This meant that United was left with the striking options of Marcus Rashford and a less fit Cristiano Ronaldo. But when the game started, they lined up with a false 9 in the person of their new signing, Christian Eriksen. And while Eriksen didn’t do badly in the game, we can’t say the same for his fellow attackers. Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandez missed a lot of chances in the game, and until the end, no United player could put the ball in the end back of the net.
Another negative talking point would be the unfruitful partnership of Scott McTominay and Fred. They have been dubbed one of the worst midfield duos in the Premier League countless times. We also witnessed another dismal display from both of them, with fans clamouring for their heads.
This first match was an eye-opener into the abilities of these players for the next season. While new signings, Eriksen and Martinez, showed some form of class and ability, players like Rashford and Scott McTominay gave us more reasons to believe that the team needs better options. To that effect, Manchester United are reportedly set to complete deals for Juventus midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, and Bologna pointman, Marko Arnautovic.
Adrien Rabiot’s fee agreed with Juventus, personal terms remain
Manchester United has had a prolonged interest in Adrian Rabiot, since the days of Louis van Gaal as manager. They wanted to sign him on a free in 2019, but since they weren’t playing Champions League football, Juventus got him. But with the current situation at the club, they are ready to make a swoop for the player irrespective of whether they succeed with Frenkie De Jong. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, United have successfully reached a £15 million agreement with Juventus and is now negotiating with his mother, Veronique, who is also his agent.
Manchester Evening News also reports that United had agreed on the deal last week and the only hindrance to the completion was Rabiot’s agent. Rabiot who played 28 times for Juve last season, is keen to ply his trade in the Premier League, and in 2014, his mother hinted at Manchester United buying him from PSG. Rabiot, 27, is now in the last 12 months of his contract and with the club’s addition of Denis Zakaria, Paul Pogba, McKennie, and Manuel Locatelli in recent times, his place in the team has gone down the pecking order. But at United, his arrival could signal the end of first-team football for Scott McTominay.
Adrien Rabiot – Manchester United eyeing former West Ham attacker
Another thing worthy of note from the first game was the lack of viable and clinical striking options Manchester United are faced with. Martial’s injury left them with a Marcus Rashford who hasn’t been brilliant in the number 9 position for a while, and a Cristiano Ronaldo who is unsatisfied at the club. Rashford squandered chances in the game, and although Ronaldo’s introduction changed up the game a bit, his dissatisfaction with the club isn’t what they need at the moment.
Now, reports have been making rounds about United offering Bologna £7.6 million for their Austrian striker, Marko Arnautovic. Erik ten Hag is believed to be an admirer of the player during his spell at FC Twente, and the board thinks that his self-belief could come in crucial to help uplift the players who are now insecure about their abilities. As per reports, Arnautovic is expected to be signed as an option that can help the team “grind out results from the bench”.
The Austrian was key to Bologna last season, scoring 14 goals, and Bologna is very sceptical to let him go. Bologna has rejected every bid so far, including offers from Juventus, and does not want the man to leave as they believe he is the focal point of their project in the club. The club’s manager, Sinisa Mihajlovic, has a good relationship with the player, and if a deal pulls through it will be based on the player.
Manchester United will nevertheless continue to push for a move to bolster their attacking options before the transfer window closes because just as we’ve seen in the first match, they can’t depend on a wasteful Rashford or an unsatisfied Ronaldo to deputize for an injury-prone Martial this season.
Adrien Rabiot
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