Transfer Gossip: Man Utd move for France midfielder with Ten Hag to show his own signing the door; Liverpool set to sign Prem duo for £120m

Manchester United are preparing to bring in a Juventus star on a free transfer with Erik ten Hag to usher out his own signing, Liverpool are closing on a £120m double deal, while Monday’s Transfer Gossip details three players in, two players out at Brighton.

MAN UTD PLOT FREE TRANSFER RAID FOR ADRIEN RABIOT

Manchester United are firnly in the race to sign Adrien Rabiot from Juventus this summer, according to reports.

The France midfielder held talks with the Red Devils last summer over a potential switch from the Italian giants. However, they failed to reach an agreement with Erik ten Hag instead sanctioning the signing of Casemiro.

Almost a year on and the 28-year-old will see his Juventus contract come to an end in just six week’s time. And while the 37-times capped France star is seemingly open to extending his stay in Turin, a move to United is now starting to take shape.

Per L’Equipe, United regard Rabiot as an ‘important target’ with talks due to be held once the season concludes.

But United have already sounded out his mother and agent, Veronique, over a potential move to Old Trafford.

Rabiot has enjoyed an excellent season for Juventus on a personal level. Known more as a defensive midfielder, the former PSG man has added another dimension to his game this season.

Indeed, playing in a more advanced role, he has contributed 11 goals in all competitions this season. And with four assists also to his name, he has a goal involvement every 2.9 appearances during 2022/23.

If United manage to persuade him to move, he will do so without costing them a penny in transfer fees. However, they are ready to hand the player a lucrative signing on fee, while his wage demands of £167,000 a week (€10m a season) are unlikely to be an issue.

United signing of Rabiot will spell curtains for Marcel Sabitzer

The deal to sign Rabiot will hand Manchester United a better central midfield option than both Scott McTominay and Fred. Indeed, the former could well find himself offloaded to Newcastle as a result of Rabiot’s signing.

Perhaps more pressingly, the signing of Rabiot on a free would also see Marcel Sabitzer’s hopes of a permanent move to Old Trafford end.

The Austrian moved to United on loan in January, signing up in response to an injury sustained by Christian Eriksen. And while he has proved a useful squad player, scoring three times in 18 games, he has never really become a regular.

Nonetheless, Sabitzer is clearly enjoying life at United and has made clear his wish to make his loan from Bayern Munich permanent.

Any deal for the 29-year-old is likely to set United back a fee of around £20m.

However, Ten Hag will reportedly send Sabitzer back to Bayern Munich if he reaches an agreement for Rabiot.

But with competition tough for places at the reigning German champions, it remains uncertain if he will hang around.

Nonetheless, it seems like his prospects of staying at Old Trafford beyond this season are quickly fading fast.

READ MORE: Man Utd ‘willing’ to pay £30m for Chelsea star as Ten Hag looks to capitalise on Boehly firesale

LIVERPOOL CLOSING IN ON DEALS FOR MOUNT AND MAC ALLISTER

Liverpool are leading the race to sign both Alexis Mac Allister and Mason Mount in a double deal that will reportedly set them back £120m.

Jurgen Klopp is desperate to add fresh legs to his midfield this season after seeing them struggle there this season. And with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joining James Milner and Arthur Melo in departing, the Reds have obvious spaces to fill.

Indeed, Klopp is reportedly targeting a minimum of three new additions in his engine room this summer.

For a long time, Liverpool were hot on the trail of Jude Bellingham, with the England star likely to leave Borussia Dortmund. However, the likely £100m transfer fee demanded by Dortmund, together with the scale of Liverpool’s rebuild, means they have to had to walk away.

However, it seems if deals for two Liverpool targets are already close to being agreed, according to the Daily Mirror.

And the paper claims a £50m deal for Mount looks set to come off despite recent claims he may remain at Chelsea.

His deal is due to expire in summer 2024, with talks over a renewal yet to see an agreement reached.

But incoming new manager Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly a fan of Mount’s and would favour him staying.

However, Todd Boehly has seemingly already made his mind up with Mount himself now ready to make a fresh start at Anfield.

The Reds are also seemingly closing in on a deal for Mac Allister.

The Argentine is enjoying an excellent season with 12 goals to his name and having also won the World Cup.

But the Mirror claims a Liverpool bid of £70m will be accepted by Brighton in the coming weeks.

And the deal for the Argentine could well be announced just a matter of days after the Premier League season ends.

TWO OUT, THREE IN FOR BRIGHTON THIS SUMMER

With Alexis Mac Allister heading to Liverpool, it seems he won’t be the only big-name star to leave Brighton this summer.

And Roberto De Zerbi admits there’s a strong possibility that both Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo depart.

Caicedo also finds himself a man in demand with both Chelsea and Arsenal keen on the Ecuadorian. Any move from the Gunners – who saw a January move for the midfielder fail – may depend on Declan Rice. But should they fail to land the West Ham captain, then a move for Caicedo looks likely.

Speaking about their upcoming business, De Zerbi admits he is expecting a big summer of change.

“For sure we will lose some players. Maybe Caicedo, maybe Mac Allister,” he said. “We have to be ready to bring in more good players.”

Indeed, on the subject of incomings, Brighton have reportedly already agreed a deal to sign James Milner from Liverpool.

The veteran midfielder, 37, will move as a free agent at end of his contract at Anfield.

Now Fabrizio Romano has revealed that deals for two other players are also in the bag for Brighton.

And the trusted transfer journalist has revealed that Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud is likely to sign.

The twice-capped Germany man has been on BVB’s books since 2017, making 141 appearances for the club.

But with his deal due to expire this summer, he has found himself a man in demand. Now it seems a move to the Seagulls has been agreed.

Brighton will not stop there, however, with a deal also done for Watford’s Joao Pedro.

He is signing for the Seagulls for an undisclosed fee from Watford, which is reportedly a club-record £30m.

READ MORE ~ Alexis Mac Allister: Liverpool wary of risky cash-plus-player deal that could convince De Zerbi