Arsenal are targeting a loan move for Juventus and France midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the January transfer window.
The transfer window opens in just five days’ time and, according to The Times, Arteta is looking to bolster his midfield and wants to make Rabiot his first signing.
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Rabiot who only joined the Juventus in the summer, has started just five matches in Serie A and Arsenal are hoping to persuade Juventus to let him leave on loan.
Rabiot was frequently linked with a move to the Premier League – and, indeed, Arsenal – while at PSG, though opted to join Juventus on a free transfer.
But Maurizio Sarri is overloaded with options in central midfield, favouring the likes of Miralem Pjanic, Rodrigo Bentancur and Blaise Matuidi.
Former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey has also found his game time limited, starting just three times in the league.
Arteta’s move for Rabiot is believed to be independent from Granit Xhaka’s future, with the Swiss midfielder – who clashed with fans earlier this season – linked with a January exit.
Arsenal’s hierarchy have previously intimated that they could be active in January despite spending big in the summer, breaking their transfer record for Nicolas Pepe.
Rabiot played youth football for several teams, including a few months at Manchester City and on 2 July 2012, he signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
He was promoted to the senior team by manager Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the 2012–13 season.
In late October 2018, both Rabiot and Kylian Mbappé were dropped from the starting XI by newly appointed manager Thomas Tuchel after they arrived late to a pre-match meeting.
The following January, after refusing to renew his contract and failing to appear for the first team since the previous month, Rabiot was forced to train with the reserves.
On 14 March 2019, Rabiot was suspended by PSG until the end of the month for going to a nightclub after a 3–1 loss to Manchester United in the Champions League round of 16 which knocked them out of the competition, and for liking an Instagram post by Patrice Evra celebrating United’s win.
