Liverpool are reportedly pushing for the signing of free agent Adrien Rabiot alongside their big-money deal for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.
The Reds are fighting tooth and nail to capture Euro 2024 winner Zubimendi, whom they could sign by triggering the €60m (£51.4m) release clause in his contract with Imanol Alguacil's side.
Liverpool would have to fork out that entire fee in full to capture Zubimendi, though, and they are instead thought to be trying to negotiate a different payment plan, hence why they have not activated that option just yet.
There is still confidence that Zubimendi will don a Liverpool kit in 2024-25, but regardless of whether the 25-year-old joins the Merseyside giants, they are apparently hoping to strengthen their engine room with a cut-price signing.
According to The Mirror, Liverpool boss Arne Slot is determined to bring Rabiot to Anfield, as he views the 29-year-old's experience as crucial to his Reds squad.
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Rabiot 'interested' in Premier League move
The France international is one of the most high-profile free agents available after running down his contract with Juventus, who tried to agree new terms with Rabiot's camp to no avail.
The 29-year-old has never played in the Premier League before, but he is supposedly keen to test himself in England's top flight, two years on from a memorable Manchester United saga.
The Red Devils were ostensibly on the brink of bringing Rabiot to Old Trafford, only for a move to collapse as the Frenchman made a U-turn on his decision to leave Turin.
Juventus continued contract talks with Rabiot's entourage even after his previous deal expired, but a couple of weeks later, the Bianconeri confirmed that the midfielder had ended his association with the club.
The 29-year-old - who coincidentally joined Juventus on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 and is yet to command a single transfer fee in his career - recorded 22 goals and 15 assists in 212 matches for the Old Lady across all tournaments.
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Rabiot was briefly on the books with Manchester City's youth academy in the first half of the 2008-09 campaign, but his extortionate wages and signing-on fee could potentially jeopardise a deal.
As well as Liverpool, Premier League rivals Arsenal and Man United are being heavily linked with the France international, who started five of Les Bleus' six matches at Euro 2024.
Rabiot move to trigger Liverpool exit?
Should Liverpool succeed in their pursuits of both Rabiot and Zubimendi, the Reds would apparently be happy to let 31-year-old Wataru Endo leave after just one season at Anfield.
The Japan international impressed after acclimatising to English football, but his age means that he is not seen as a long-term solution in the number six role as opposed to the 25-year-old Zubimendi.
French giants Marseille have reportedly failed with one £12m offer for Endo, but they are prepared to come back with an improved bid if they get the green light from his entourage.
Ben Knapton
