Liverpool FC deny the reports made earlier this week claiming that they are in pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The Anfield outfit are calling fake news on the ESPN story that ran on Wednesday saying the team had contacted the player’s mother, who is also his agent, by telephone about a potential transfer deal once he’s available on a free.
There was even a report claiming that Jurgen Klopp himself had spoken with Rabiot’s mother/agent by phone.
The Liverpool Echo writes that the club: “are understood to be baffled by such stories, with Klopp having had no conversations with the France international in private or otherwise to discuss an imminent deal.
“The Reds boss is happy with his midfield options having splashed out almost £100 million in the summer to sign Naby Keita and Fabinho.”
So who to believe? Was the ESPN story just, to use a very big euphemism “an agent-driven narrative?” Was it just a way to gain more leverage in contract extension talks with PSG? Why would that even be necessary, given how potential interest in Adrien Rabiot is/would be very high on the open transfer market?
The Echo story certainly comes a lot closer to passing the proverbial smell test than the ESPN narrative. The Liverpool midfield is indeed quite crowded right now.
So much so that Klopp even had to explain earlier this week why Fabinho has yet to even make his Reds debut. With full fitness in the midfield, the summer transfer window addition from Monaco has only made one match day squad, and he ended up not even featuring that day. With Liverpool already having an embarrassment of riches at the position group, the idea of adding to it right now just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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