Man Utd transfer news: Adrien Rabiot, Ivan Rakitic, Paul Pogba

PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot is out of contract at the end of the season

(Image credit: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

published 15 March 2019

Manchester United are reportedly ready to “hijack” Chelsea and Arsenal’s bid to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

Man Utd transfer news: Philippe Coutinho, Jadon Sancho, Alexis Sanchez

And according to The Sun, United have now joined the race for the “contract rebel”, with Rabiot expected to leave the Ligue 1 leaders this summer.

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£10m to sign on

The Sun says that United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is drawing up a list of targets for the summer transfer window, and has identified Rabiot as a potential replacement for his “ageing midfield”, with Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera “all getting on”.

Rabiot - who has been slammed by PSG for partying after their Champions League exit to United last week - is reportedly demanding £200,000-a-week wages to secure his loyalty, along with a £10m signing-on fee.

United are said to be “willing to pay” out, with a source telling the newspaper: “There is interest there. We are on the lookout for a midfield link player for the long-term.”

No deal for Rakitic

Meanwhile, the Daily Star says that United “have opted to step away from the idea” of signing Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona.

Why? Because Paul Pogba’s renaissance under Solskjaer means the Red Devils no longer have room in the dressing room for the 31-year-old Croatian star Rakitic.

Frenchman Pogba was close to quitting Old Trafford earlier in the season, as his relationship with Jose Mourinho deteriorated, but Solskjaer’s arrival “has revitalised the 25-year-old”, says the Star.

The club is reported to be confident that Pogba will stay put at Old Trafford if Solskjaer is given the manager’s job permanently - and that decision is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks by the United board.