🚨 Newcastle "have looked" at midfielder who could be ideal Sandro Tonali replacement
"If Newcastle are short in midfield that could bring them back to the table..."
Newcastle United have been tipped as potential suitors for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot if they find they’re in need of a signing to replace Sandro Tonali amid the betting scandal that could see him facing a lengthy ban from football.
Writing in his exclusive column for the Daily Briefing this week, French football expert Jonathan Johnson discussed the situation, which has also impacted Juventus due to Nicolo Faggioli receiving a fan for similar reasons.
Rabiot has less than a year to run on his current Juve contract, and it seems his future remains uncertain, while Johnson says there has also been plenty of interest in the France international in recent times, with Newcastle among the teams to have looked at him.
“There is still major uncertainty around Adrien Rabiot future at Juventus, and that's why he only signed a short-term contract extension in the summer. What happens next is still unclear, especially with the situation with Paul Pogba,” Johnson said.
“If it turns out that Juventus have grounds to separate with Pogba because of the recent controversy, it could mean they have more money to offer Rabiot a long-term deal. Still, the big question is what the long-term strategy is for Juve in the future. I think that could include somebody like Rabiot, but certainly offloading a big earner like Pogba would make that more straightforward for them.
“As has been widely reported, Rabiot has been of interest to a large number of clubs outside of Italy in the last few years - PSG thought about trying to bring him back, while Premier League clubs such as Manchester United, Newcastle, and others have looked at him as well.
“When you look at what’s happened with Sandro Tonali at Newcastle with the betting allegations, and the same with Nicolo Faggioli at Juventus, that could potentially change Rabiot’s situation again. If Newcastle are short in midfield that could bring them back to the table for Rabiot, but, equally, if Juve are without both Pogba and Faggioli in midfield that might make it more important for them to keep Rabiot.
“It’s a tricky period, and I think that probably strengths both his and his entourage’s negotiating position, which could eventually lead to a longer-term contract at Juventus, or else a big move elsewhere.”
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