Rumour
Liverpool have once again found themselves linked with the services of one of Europe’s brightest midfield youngsters. This time, it’s PSG’s Adrien Rabiot.
The 23-year-old’s contract at the Parisian giants runs out at the end of this season, meaning the club could be looking to offload him sooner rather than later to avoid letting him go on a free.
Other Premier League clubs such as Arsenal have also been previously linked to the Frenchman’s services. However, Liverpool have certainly had the better results so far this season, which could be the deciding factor.
Adrien Rabiot’s Season So Far
After several years of working his way through the ranks at PSG, last year saw Rabiot establish himself on the world stage.
The 23-year-old made 33 appearances last season in Ligue 1, scoring one goal and assisting five. Rabiot became a crucial component to PSG’s season which saw them win yet another Ligue 1 trophy.
Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t rewarded with a place in France’s World Cup squad. Considering his nation went on to win the tournament, I’m sure it’s a sore subject for the youngster.
Four games into this year’s Ligue 1 season, PSG sit comfortably on top with four wins in as many games.
Rabiot has started in all of these games so far in Ligue 1 this season, even bagging a goal in the season opener against Caen and averaging a pass success rate of 93.5%.
The Frenchman has formed a formidable partnership in midfield with Marquinhos, the Brazilian’s deployment in midfield has allowed Rabiot much more creative freedom. PSG boss Thomas Tuchel has experimented with a number of formations so far, ranging from the 4-3-3 to 3-4-1-2. The Rabiot/Marquinhos partnership has been a consistent factor in Tuchel’s squad.
Statistics Comparison
One statistic of Rabiot’s that certainly stands out is his remarkable pass success rate. The Frenchman records a percentage per 90 metrics of 92%, edging out Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson who managed 90%.
Rabiot also comes out on top in terms of goals assisted per 90 metrics. He assisted 0.20 goals per 90 metrics, while James Milner followed with a measly 0.11.
In terms of interceptions, Rabiot managed 1.25 per 90 metrics, while Jordan Henderson closely followed with 1.12.
However, it’s James Milner who tops the lot in all other parameters. In terms of key passes per 90 metrics, Milner tallied 1.29, while Rabiot managed just 0.81.
Also, Rabiot’s 1.01 chances created weren’t enough to beat Milner’s impressive tally of 1.70. Furthermore, Milner won 1.86 tackles for his team per 90 metrics, while Rabtiot only managed 1.57.
Conclusion
While Rabiot would certainly be a great acquisition for any club, I’m not sure it’s one Liverpool need.
Jordan Henderson has just signed a new five-year deal at the club, and the arrivals of both Fabinho and Naby Keita mean that Jurgen Klopp has plenty of firepower in the middle of the park.
What Rabiot has, though, is bags of potential. It’s clear that his best years are ahead of him. With James Milner now at 32-years-old, some youthful exuberance would be welcomed at the club.
However, Liverpool’s midfield structure so far this season has been massively improved upon from last year. It would be a shame to bring in yet another new face that could ruin the status quo.
It could be a massive year for the Kop, as the side look to be Manchester City‘s main challengers for the Premier League this season. Whether they do it with or without Rabiot’s services, however, we’re yet to see.
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