Arsenal’s pursuit of a new midfielder is continuing this summer, with plenty of twists and turns during the saga.
Mikel Arteta has looked to bolster his squad in the central ranks, with hopes it will close the gap to winning the Premier League title.
While Declan Rice was signed for big money last summer, an ageing core of Jorginho and Thomas Partey leaves them vulnerable for the future.
As such, one of the names that has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium is Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad.
The Spaniard impressed over the past season in La Liga before helping Spain reach the final of Euro 2024, winning the whole tournament.
However, recent reports have claimed that Arsenal’s deal for Merino is complex and could face several bumps in the road.
That may lead to links for other targets, with one of those being a move for free agent Adrien Rabiot.
Arsenal join Liverpool and Real Madrid in Adrien Rabiot transfer race
According to reports from TuttoJuve, Arsenal have joined the race to sign Rabiot this summer as a midfield addition.
The Gunners aren’t alone in their interest though, as Premier League rivals Liverpool and La Liga giants Real Madrid have also expressed their interest.
The Frenchman is a free agent following his exit from Juventus at the end of his contract, making him available without a transfer fee.
That could be enough to tempt a move for teams keen on adding a hard-working player who is capable of covering plenty of ground.
Should Arteta win the race to sign Rabiot, the report claims that he will have an important role in the squad dynamic.
The 29-year-old will be tasked with bringing experience and stability to a group of players viewed as young and ambitious.
Rabiot has won 24 trophies in his career, which has included stints at PSG and Juventus – as well as one international trophy with France.
Should Arsenal sign Adrien Rabiot?
One of the main questions that will appear as a result of this report is whether Arsenal should sign Rabiot or not.
The midfielder’s teammates have often left glowing reviews of his ability, with former France captain Hugo Lloris claiming in 2022: “Technically he’s a very elegant player and he really can help us [France] go far [in the World Cup].”
The former Juventus man helped Les Bleus reach the final of the tournament that year, before being knocked out on penalties.
While he clearly has some ability at the top level, perhaps his attributes are closer to options that already exist in the squad.
Rabiot excels at covering space both on and off the ball, something that is already a key attribute of Rice at Arsenal.
Arteta could use a player who is capable of receiving the ball from the backline and progressing the play through their passing ability.
In this instance, Rabiot isn’t that and while he would be a useful rotation option for Rice, he perhaps shouldn’t be the first choice to play alongside him.
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