Newcastle United are reportedly readying a move in the January transfer window for Juventus midfielder and France international Adrien Rabiot.
The Lowdown: Out of contract
Rabiot is a player who is out of contract in the summer, meaning that he can leave Juve as a free agent, or sign for another club for a cut-price in the January transfer window.
His future is likely to be resolved after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he is currently starring with France ahead of a mouth-watering tie with England in the quarter-finals over the weekend.
Rabiot scored a goal and grabbed an assist in France's opening 4-1 win against Australia in the group stages, and has started three of the four games for Les Bleus so far, per Transfermarkt.
The Latest: Newcastle readying move
As per Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Juventus would consider selling Rabiot in January for a transfer fee of between €15-20m (£12.9-17.2m), and the St. James' Park outfit are 'ready to go on the offensive' if he is made available.
They, along with fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal, are 'watching carefully' in terms of developments on the central midfielder, given his contract situation at the Old Lady.
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The Verdict: Get it done?
It is surely a no-brainer for the North East club to sign a player of the quality and experience that Rabiot possesses for a cut-price.
Once labelled as being built ‘like a wardrobe‘ by former team-mate and football legend Gianluigi Buffon, the six-foot-three colossus ranks highly among other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duels won, dribbles and tackles made over the past year (FBRef), and at 27 years of age, is a player still bang in his prime.
Shining on the world stage with France now as well, Rabiot would offer Eddie Howe another great option in the middle of the park, and a deal looks like it could be possible in January.