Everton manager Frank Lampard could be looking to reshape his team for next season if they stay in the Premier League, with midfielders Allan, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes failing to really justify the combined £66.24m spent on them.
The Brazilian has averaged a disappointing 6.65 match rating this season from Sofascore, while Gomes has averaged an even worse 6.36. Indeed, Gbamin is not even at the club anymore after being sent on loan to Russian side CSKA Moscow.
With none of those three being crucial figures at Goodison Park, Lampard may be looking to replace them with better quality players, and a current France international is the latest midfielder to be linked with a move to Merseyside.
What's the news?
According to transfer specialist Ignazio Genuardi, who was speaking to French website But Football Club, Everton have made contact in recent months with Juventus ace Adrien Rabiot, who is up for sale after failing to kick on in Turin and establish himself as an important player for the Bianconeri.
With his contract expiring at the end of next season and his valuation just £16.2m according to Transfermarkt, the Frenchman could be available at a bargain price in the summer.
Massive improvement on current options
Despite seemingly not being wanted by his current club, Rabiot has made a total of 47 appearances for club and country this season, remaining a key part of Didier Deschamps' plans for France and often showcasing his ability in Serie A.
Averaging a 6.95 Sofascore rating in the Italian top flight this season, the 26-year-old has made 25 appearances, with 21 coming from the start, and has contributed two assists amid completing 83% of his passes per game.
Dubbed a "complete" player by former Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo, the former PSG prospect ranks highly. among midfielders in Europe's top five leagues and continental competitions. As per FBRef, He is in the top 10% for successful pressures per game (7.29), the top 6% for tackles in the defensive third per 90 (1.70) and the top 8% for carries into the penalty area per 90 (0.52).
Rabiot is the definition of a box-to-box midfielder, and although at times he has come under criticism, he has demonstrated for a number of years that he can compete at the top levels of the game - and the statistics suggest that he would immediately improve a lacklustre Everton midfield.
His passing success rate this term is better than any Toffees midfielder except the on-loan Donny van de Beek, while his match average of 1.4 dribbles per game is second only to Demarai Gray in Lampard's entire squad.
Those comparisons suggest that the Everton boss desperately needs a player of Rabiot's quality at Goodison Park in order to add more thrust and ball-playing ability from midfield.
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