Manchester United and Manchester City enter the race for 27-year-old Liverpool target

Manchester United and City enter the race for Liverpool target Adrien Rabiot

Liverpool FC have been linked with Adrien Rabiot for quite some time now. The French midfielder is available on a free transfer. The Juventus man has attracted interest from some of the continent’s biggest clubs.

However, recent reports suggest that Liverpool’s arch-rivals, Manchester United and Manchester City, have also entered the race for the talented midfielder. ESPN (h/t Liverpool Echo) claim that Liverpool are battling with the Manchester clubs for his signature.

Despite the clear need for reinforcements in the midfield department, the club needs to be wary of pursuing Rabiot. This is due to the fact that the 27-year-old has a reputation for being somewhat of a controversial figure, both on and off the pitch.

While his talent cannot be denied, Rabiot’s behaviour could cause problems for the club, both in the short and long term. And that is totally avoidable.

Rabiot to the Reds?

Of course, Liverpool are no strangers to players with a bit of edge. The likes of Luis Suarez and Mario Balotelli have graced the Anfield turf in the past, and their fiery personalities certainly didn’t harm the club’s success on the pitch (not so much with Mario). However, there is a sense that Rabiot’s particular brand of controversy could be a different kettle of fish altogether.

As earlier mentioned, Rabiot’s contract with Juventus expires at the end of this season (Transfermarkt), obviously meaning he will be available on a free transfer. This has no doubt made him an attractive proposition for many clubs, including Liverpool’s rivals. However, there is a notion that the Reds could probably sit out of this one and even former Red Jose Enrique said the same via Twitter

While the temptation to sign a talented player on a free transfer is always there, it’s clear that the Reds are looking for players who will fit in with the team’s ethos and values. This is a team that has been built on a strong sense of camaraderie and unity, and Jurgen Klopp would obviously be unwilling to risk disrupting that delicate balance.

There is always a risk involved in signing players with a bit of controversy about them, Liverpool would be better off taking the long view and focusing on building a team that will be successful for years to come.

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The speculation that Rabiot could possibly disrupt the team balance and ethos is something that could go horribly wrong as well, but the club stands better off by not taking a chance instead of wasting a sizeable amount of resources and it not being of any use for Jurgen Klopp and Co. At the moment, seeing him away to either of the Manchester clubs could be the best thing for the Reds to do.