French Midfielder Set For January Move To Arsenal Or Chelsea

The summer transfer window may be closed but managers are already thinking ahead to future transfer windows so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal and Chelsea are linked with Adrien Rabiot.

French midfielder Adrien Rabiot looks set to leave Paris Saint-Germain in January after being left out of their Champions League squad with Arsenal and Chelsea leading the race for his signature, according to reports.

Rabiot was hotly tipped to leave the Parc des Prince over the summer after rejecting a new contract and with just one year remaining on his current deal, the Ligue 1 champions were keen to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Arsenal and Chelsea were strongly linked with the 19-year-old but Roma came closest to landing him before the window slammed shut on Monday night but were unable to agree terms with the player or PSG over a move to Italy.

PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has admitted he held talks with several clubs over a potential deal for Rabiot after the teenager informed the club he wanted to leave.

“We talked about Rabiot with Roma and other clubs.

“But we did not come to any agreement. I love the kid – I think he’s a great player and I want him to stay.

“I have tried to get him to renew his contract, but without success. He wants to leave.” Al-Khelaifi is quoted as saying by the Express

It now looks certain that the French Under-21 international will be on the move when the transfer window re-opens in January as he’s been left out of PSG’s squad for the group stages of the Champions League.

The Express claim that with Roma unable to strike a deal in the summer, Arsenal and Chelsea are now the players most likely destination and the two London clubs are expected to battle it out for his signature during the winter window.

Arsene Wenger will be on the look-out for a defensive midfielder who can also play at centre-back in January after failing land one during the summer and Rabiot would be ideal as he’s able to fill both positions comfortably and he should be available at a bargain price due to his contract situation.

However, the newspaper suggests that Chelsea will also be in the running with Jose Mourinho seemingly keen on further strengthening his impressive squad at Stamford Bridge.

Rabiot has been with PSG since 2010 and was expected to go on to become a key player for the French outfit, but he’s grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of first team football with the likes of Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and Yohan Cabaye all above him in Laurent Blanc’s pecking order, and a move to the Premier League now looks on the cards.