Prior report revealed Man United’s plan B to Adrien Rabiot after Juventus contract extension

Adrien Rabiot has been a target of Manchester United in the last year but has signed a new contract at Juventus this week.

Rabiot, 28, has been linked to an Old Trafford move during Erik ten Hag’s tenure at United.

Last summer a transfer seemed possible but that did not materialise and instead United would buy Casemiro from Real Madrid late in the window.

This time around, a deal seemed to make sense. United have a limited budget and have several positions that need strengthening. Signing Rabiot on a free transfer would’ve been considered shrewd business by some.

However, it was announced on Tuesday that the midfielder would continue his journey at Juventus, signing a one-year contract extension with the Serie A club.

Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport explained that initial talks with Veronique Rabiot, the player’s mother and agent, saw her asking for a three-year deal worth €10 million per year, as well as a signing on fee of €10 million – to which United said no.

With a move for the Italian now ruled out, United could look elsewhere for midfield recruitments. Mason Mount is still a possible signing, with United set to meet with Chelsea with week, but an additional signing in the engine room seems likely if Scott McTominay or Fred leave the club in the coming weeks.

Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion is another midfield target for The Reds, but that only seems likely to materialise if a deal for Mount falls through completely – and, even then, Chelsea are advancing in their attempts to sign the 21-year-old.

Further names have been few and far between for United, however, a prior report from Fabrice Hawkins has stated that Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach will be targeted following Rabiot’s extension at Juventus.

The RMC Sport reporter detailed that Rabiot was a target for United this summer last month but added that if The Reds failed to sign the player, they will target Kone.

Kone, 22, has been on the wishlist of several top clubs in recent months including United, Chelsea and PSG, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, but it is Liverpool who have pushed forward for a potential deal – with direct talks with the player’s agent being taken earlier this month.

United’s need for a striker, alongside the possible requirement for a no.1 goalkeeper should David de Gea leave, could mean that they are unable to enter the race for Kone until they sell players.

There are several names on United’s potential outgoings list who could command respectable fees, such as Dean Henderson, Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, Fred, Anthony Martial and Anthony Elanga.

Zidane Iqbal left the club earlier this week but that deal will only see United receive £850,000. Although, the deal does include a 40 per cent sell-on clause for the midfielder.

It has also been well reported that Iqbal’s new contract at FC Utrecht includes a buyback clause as well, however, a source close to the situation has told UtdDistrict that there is no buyout clause inside the contract.