Arsenal + Chelsea Given Boost In Pursuit Of French Midfielder

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 given hope in their pursuit of Adrien Rabiot.

Arsenal and Chelsea have been given a major boost in their pursuit of Adrien Rabiot with Roma boss Rudi Garcia dismissing suggestions they have already got an agreement in place to sign the midfielder, according to reports. 

Rabiot was expected to leave the Parc des Prince this summer after rejecting a new contract and with just one year remaining on his current deal, PSG were understood to be keen to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Arsenal and Chelsea were strongly linked with the 19-year-old and are being tipped to renew their interest this winter, while Roma came closest to landing him before the window slammed shut last week but were unable to agree terms with the player or PSG over a move to Italy.

Reports on Sunday night claimed that the Serie A club were trying to use Kevin Strootman as bait in a bid to finally land Rabiot in a player-plus-cash swap deal lined-up for when the transfer window re-opens in January.

However, Arsenal and Chelsea have now been given fresh hope that they could still win the race as Roma boss Rudi Garcia has dismissed the idea that they have any sort of ‘secret’ agreement in place to sign the midfielder.

“He’s a big player and he’s a player in whom we are interested,”

“Our club follows all players who have big potential.

“He’s a PSG player and I have nothing else to say about him.

“He has no secret agreement with us.” Garcia is quoted as saying by the Express

Rabiot has been with PSG since joining the club in 2010 and was expected to go on to become a key player for the French outfit, but his progress hasn’t gone according to plan and 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.

Roma have confirmed their interest and although no agreement is in place yet, a move to Italy could be on the cards if they can agree a deal in January but Arsenal and Chelsea could yet have a say in things.

Arsene Wenger is on the look-out for a versatile defensive midfielder who can also play at centre-back if required after failing to sign someone in the summer while Jose Mourinho is seemingly also lining-up potential midfield targets for this winter and Rabiot would be an excellent addition for either side.