Liverpool is a busy place, even though it may not seem like it. Football talk in recent weeks has mostly focused on international scandals, with Anfield remaining quiet in the transfer market as Arne Slot tries to strengthen his team and pinpoint areas for development.

The Dutchman, who was previously with Feyenoord, has been in regular contact with sporting director Richard Hughes, and new players will be joining this summer. The question is not whether, but when.

However, a lot is happening. Thiago Alcantara, a midfielder for Liverpool, made headlines recently when he declared his retirement from professional football. His injury-plagued final season at the club saw him play just five minutes, and the 33-year-old is not signing a contract with another team.

Replacing the legendary Spaniard is not a top priority for Slot and company, given his on-pitch contribution was little last season; last summer’s massive midfield overhaul took care of that. However, his contract with the Reds is still up, and he will be leaving with his £200,000 weekly wage. A cunning stand-in has been found.

Liverpool is arranging a clever bargain.Calcio Mercato reports that Adrien Rabiot’s future will be resolved quickly following France’s elimination from Euro 2024.

The midfielder’s contract with Juventus expired last month, and while the Old Lady are hopeful to tie him down to fresh terms, a host of top European outfits are also sniffing around.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are two of the competitors, but Liverpool is the only Premier League team mentioned and they could now make a move.

Reasons for signing Liverpool Adrien Rabiot 29-year-old Rabiot has had a trophy-filled career with both Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, but he may give the Premier League a shot after making 212 appearances there.

A versatile midfield player, a cursory look might conclude that Liverpool does not need to sign such a player, but if FSG decide against adding a new No. 6 this summer, Wataru Endo will still be vital to the Anfield team, and Alexis Mac Allister will need to regularly operate from a deep-lying position.

Furthermore, Rabiot would bring a much-needed depth and energy to a team that has returned to the Champions League after spending the previous season wallowing in the Europa League. Rabiot would bring in a tonne of experience, which Slot would require.

France weren’t exactly great at the Euros this summer, playing with a pragmatic sheen that left observers puzzled. Such riches, such talent. Still, they narrowly lost to imperious Spain and Rabiot performed admirably throughout, showcasing the kind of all-encompassing skillset that Liverpool would benefit from.

His ability to maintain a sharp pass success rate while ushering play forwards, creating, influencing, bears testament to Rabiot’s overarching technical acumen. He’s been hailed in the past as a “monster” by football writer Robin Bairner, but for all his imposing physicality, his athletic robustness, Rabiot is actually a pretty wonderful technician.

That right there is the ideal substitute for Thiago.

Why Rabiot might fill Thiago’s shoes
In the sweltering summer of 2020, Thiago completed a £20 million transfer from Bayern Munich to Liverpool, giving Jurgen Klopp access to one of the most prestigious passing games in Europe.

When healthy, Thiago has given Liverpool some of the best football in the team’s illustrious history, but extended runs have been rare; in his four seasons as a Red, the two-time Champions League winner has never started more than 20 Premier League games in a single season.

But what a player. The retiring midfielder’s “staggering” quality once astounded pundit Michael Owen, and he did have a significant influence on the fluidity and vigour of Klopp’s Liverpool team.

Thiago placed in the top 2% of Premier League midfielders for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons, and the top 10% for tackles per 90 possessions in the 2022–2023 season, according to FBref.

Rabiot may not be as polished as other players, but he does have a tremendous passing game that values both creativity and control equally. David Trezuguet, a former star of Juventus, even went so far as to call him a “extraordinary player” for his skill.

His metrics in Germany over the past month underscore the point of comparison, ranking among the top 10% of midfielders at Euro 2024 for shot-creating actions and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90.

Juventus’ stop-start season under Massimiliano Allegri last year precluded Rabiot from finding his finest football, no doubt, but he still maintained a steady level of performance, notably proving his high levels of energy by averaging 4.8 ball recoveries and 5.7 successful duels per game.

Not to be forgotten, Liverpool boast one of the best teams in Europe, and Slot will work nonstop to ensure that his system operates with the utmost elegance and effectiveness.

Rabiot might be the seasoned leader best able to fortify the side and guarantee that cutlery can be battled for on several fronts.