Man Utd ‘make contact with Adrien Rabiot’ with Juventus star available on free transfer as Mason Mount alternative
MANCHESTER UNITED have made contact with Adrien Rabiot's representatives over a free transfer, reports say.
United are the market for a new midfielder but have so far been rebuffed in their efforts to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea.
The Frenchman's Juventus contract expires at the end of June but the club want him to sign a one-year extension.
Rabiot, 28, has a good relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri and made 48 appearances with 11 goals last season.
The player came close to joining United last summer but the Premier League club failed to agree personal terms with him.
Instead they signed Casemiro, 31, for £70million from Real Madrid.
United's top target in this window has been Mount, 24, but so far their three bids for the England international have been rejected.
A third offer of £55m was turned down by Blues chairman Todd Boehly last Friday afternoon.
But just a few hours later Boehly told his Old Trafford counterparts that he would be willing to do business if they stump up a further £10m.
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It is the first time throughout the whole saga that Chelsea have gone on the front foot in talks and said they are prepared to strike a deal of any sort.
Chelsea then went even further and proposed a face-to-face meeting with United to try to thrash out a compromise.
SunSport understands they will accept a structure of a £58m down payment with £7m in add-ons.
The ball is now firmly in Erik ten Hag's court whether he is happy to stump up the extra cash for a player with just one year left on his contract.