AS Roma have made a habit of beating Arsenal in the transfer market this summer
and following on the heels of Kostas Manolas’ arrival this week, the Metro
reports that the Italian outfit have now won the race for PSG starlet Adrien
Rabiot. The 19 year old has been incessantly linked with the Gunners in recent
times, despite a striker being the main priority for Arsene Wenger. There were
rumblings from a few quarters about Wenger’s reported interest in yet another
midfielder but in a bittersweet move, the Frenchman should complete a £11.4m
transfer to Roma before Monday night.
The bushy haired teenager was
given a regular run in the first team by then manager Carlo Ancelotti two years
ago before being loaned out to Toulouse for half a season. He held down a
regular spot in the first-team last season, making over 2 Ligue 1 appearances.
But with his contract ending at
the end of the season and a renewal not appearing in his line of sight, the19
year old has decided to jump the expensive cruise liner. Roma’s fortunes have
been changing off-late, with the Serie A side returning to the Champions League
this season after finishing 2nd last season and in Rudi Garcia they have a
manager renown for developing young players.
Arsenal are abundantly staffed in
the attacking midfield area and it is in defensive midfield where they need
reinforcements, with Sami Khedira and William Carvalho being linked with the
Gunners all summer long. Neither have arrived and neither has the strike force been
beefed up, with Oliver Giroud’s injury laying bare the options available to
Arsenal in the coming months. Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell could be the ones
fighting for a starting berth in the forward-line, not as mouth-watering as a
Thierry Henry vs. Dennis Bergkamp contest.
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