Adrien Rabiot, a Manchester United transfer target, is no closer to signing a contract extension with his current club, Juventus.
Juve are desperate to sign the player, according to Italian media, because his current contract expires at the end of this season.
Rabiot was a target for Manchester United last summer, but a deal fell through due to a wage disagreement.
The Frenchman has since gone on to have an outstanding season for Juventus, and he is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in Serie A.
Journalists say it “doesn’t seem real” for Juventus to potentially let a player of Rabiot’s caliber leave for free.
Rabiot is reportedly open to staying in Italy, but his decision will be influenced by Juve’s ability to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Juventus was docked 15 points halfway through the season, putting their qualification for Europe’s top competition in jeopardy.
Max Allegri’s men are seventh in Serie A, eight points behind AC Milan for the final Champions League spot.
Juve’s best chance of qualifying appears to be through the Europa League, with the winners automatically qualifying for the Champions League the following season.
Interestingly, United and Juventus have been drawn in the same half of the draw, with the two teams set to meet in the semi-finals if they both get past their respective quarter-final opponents.
If United manages to knock Juventus out of Europe this season, they will not only reach the final, but they will also give themselves an advantage in their pursuit of Rabiot.
The midfielder has ten goals for Juventus this season and had a strong World Cup, with France only a penalty shootout away from winning the trophy.
With Rabiot potentially available for free transfer in the summer, a deal would be a cost-effective way for Erik ten Hag to increase his numbers and quality.
Should United make a move for Rabiot, they will face competition from European giants who are also keeping a close eye on his situation.
