Barcelona set to begin negotiations with Adrien Rabiot and Jean-Clair Todibo
Barcelona will begin talks for summer targets shortly
Barcelona are in the running for two of France’s most exciting young prospects, Adrien Rabiot and Jean-Clair Todibo. Both of their contracts expire at the end of the season, and they could be potential candidates to fill certain voids at the back for the squad.
The squad was lacking depth at centre-back due to the injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen. The management has found a temporary solution in loan signing Jeison Murillo, but he may not stay after his loan ends. Moreover, Vermaelen’s contract too runs out in the summer.
The problem of the central defensive midfielder is still there. Nearly all of the midfielders in the squad have been used as makeshift defensive midfielders, most commonly Ivan Rakitić. But none of them are suited to Sergio Busquets’ role, and Sergi Samper is simply not good enough.
The club needs to bring in a centre-back and a defensive midfielder in the summer. Éric Abidal has considered Dutch starlets Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, but together, the Ajax duo is expected to cost over €100 million. The French duo presents an inexpensive alternative.
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Barça have been linked with Adrien Rabiot since the end of the last summer transfer window. The club confirmed its interest in the 23-year old France international in a recent statement, and is set to finalise contract negotiations with Rabiot’s representatives, which have been ongoing.
As for Jean-Clair Todibo, the Toulouse centre-back has been monitored by Barça scouts in recent months. The club is highly interested in bringing him in, and may commence talks soon. He is yet to renew his deal with his boyhood club, and is currently open for negotiations.
The Bosman ruling mandates that Barcelona will only need to inform Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse that it is negotiating with one of its players over a move that will take place when their contract expires, and the club may do so in the very near future.
Of course, the Dutch duo are more talented than the French duo. But economics plays an important part in deciding matters pertaining to the transfer of the players, and the club might decide to take the pragmatic step by roping in Adrien Rabiot and Jean-Clair Todibo.
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Rabiot is a troubling character to have in the dressing room, while Todibo is largely unproven at the top level of European football, unlike Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt. So, the club should prioritise the Ajax youngsters but the French duo should be the first alternative.