Juventus Transfers: Is the reported asking price for Adrien Rabiot too ambitious?

Juventus are in need of some significant upgrades to their squad this summer. A few years of poor transfer planning means that Juve are at risk of squandering their “era” with Cristiano Ronaldo in the side, and that’s not something Andrea Agnelli wants to admit.

Their biggest needs are in the middle of the park, where the likes of Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur have disappointed. Besides 2020 summer acquisitions Arthur Melo and Weston McKennie, nobody is off limits. And 2019 free agent busts Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey are among those shortlisted.

According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Calciomercato.com, Juventus would like to obtain 30 million euros in exchange for Rabiot this coming summer.

Normally, that would be a fair price. A decent midfielder like Rabiot who can defend well and score the occasional banger, as he did against Lazio a few weeks ago, would be worth that kind of money. And there will be Premier League candidates to buy him, such as Everton.

Juventus could conceivably get that 30 million for Adrien Rabiot

But in the pandemic, Rabiot’s value takes a hit. A big part of that is due to his wages. Rabiot makes about seven million euros per year with the Bianconeri, and that’s a high price for a player who has two goals and no assists this season. He may be Juve’s least effective midfielder in the attack, and that includes Bentancur.

It is important, however, for Juve to set a higher price for their players. You never know who may bite. And more to the point in this economy, you never know who will like a player and have the right combination of need and perceived fit. If there is a player as a surplus position on that team, Juventus could then swing a favorable swap deal. That may be the ideal here with Rabiot.

In terms of a straight-up cash deal, I think the Bianconeri would be fortunate to get 30 million euros. It isn’t impossible, though, especially with even Manchester City linked to the French international. And you never know. Maybe Rabiot will hit a great patch of form at the right time. We all saw how brilliantly he played in the summer months for Juve.

So in summary, it is not outlandish by any means for Juve to hope for 30 million euros in exchange for Rabiot. He is still only 25 and could be great in the right situation. And while he may have to make way for a better midfielder, Rabiot is not useless to Juventus if he must stay.