'Negotiations underway': Liverpool now on the verge of missing out on 'world-class' free-agent - Romano
09/16/2024 02:00 AM
Liverpool made just the two signings this summer as the Reds had a quiet window much to the surprise of many fans and pundits.
Arne Slot’s first summer in charge at Anfield saw the arrivals of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa, with Liverpool also offloading Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho to Brentford in two separate deals.
Whilst there was interest in Xavi Simons, the window was a tame one for Liverpool with Slot seemingly putting his trust in the players Jurgen Klopp left behind for the Dutch manager to work on this season.
And it now appears that one Liverpool-linked free-agent will be moving elsewhere.
Liverpool set to miss out on Adrien Rabiot to Olympique Marseille
According to Fabrizio Romano, Olympique Marseille are closing in on the signing of French international Adrien Rabiot, who became a free-agent this summer after leaving Juventus once his contract expired with the Italian giants.
Romano posted on Twitter: “Olympique Marseille are in advanced talks to sign Adrien Rabiot as new midfielder! Negotiations underway with Rabiot on contract terms. OM are optimistic to get it done in the next 48h — here we go, expected soon!”
Rabiot was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool this summer with the Reds eyeing the midfielder as a potential replacement for Thiago Alcantara and competition for the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
Yet it appears that Rabiot will be making the surprise move to Marseille this September instead, with the France international opting for a return to Ligue 1 rather than the Premier League like many expected from the midfielder.
Rabiot would have been a perfect midfield signing for Liverpool
Rabiot has been one of the most underrated midfielders in world football in the last two years having played a key role for both France and Juventus, with David Trezeguet hailing the former PSG man as 'world-class'.
Which is why Liverpool missing out on Rabiot could come across as a major blow for the Reds, with the 29-year-old a player who could have thrived at Anfield under Slot and given the Dutch coach a fantastic array of options in the midfield.
Indeed, Rabiot has all the tools to become a star in the Premier League, yet it is now unlikely that we will get to see the Frenchman in England with the maestro set to return to his home country to play for Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille.
