Chelsea have reportedly joined Barcelona in the race to sign Juventus French midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
The former PSG star, who has played 41 times in all competitions for the Italian giants this season, would be available for around £17million in the summer transfer window.
According to Calciomercato, Rabiot’s mother and agent Veronique has already begun negotiations with Barcelona, but Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is also interested in bringing him to Stamford Bridge.
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The 14-cap international, 26, signed for Juventus on a free transfer from Tuchel’s Paris Saint-Germain side in July 2019.
Tuchel said back in 2018: “For me he is a great player and can become a top player,” and although Rabiot was frozen out due to contractual reasons, the German is still keen on a reunion.
Left-footed central midfielder Rabiot could play alongside international team-mate N’Golo Kante in West London.
After lining up against Ukraine together for Didier Deschamps’ reigning world champions in March, Rabiot said: “He never stops. It’s easy to play alongside him.”
Despite playing regularly at the Allianz Stadium in his two campaigns at the club, with 78 appearances and four goals in all competitions, he has never fully convinced.
Juventus would be open to keeping him, but with a salary of around £120,000 per week (£6million per year), his sale – which would likely involve a fee of about £17m – would prove a vital financial boost given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
With Rodrigo Bentancur, Weston McKennie and Arthur Melo also potentially seen as more viable long-term options, Andrea Pirlo’s side are ready to listen to any forthcoming offers.
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