Fabrizio Romano has dropped a big Manchester United update concerning a recent transfer target and the news will surely please Erik ten Hag.

What’s the news?

The transfer guru took to Twitter on Sunday to drop an update on Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot, saying:

“Manchester United want to push for Adrien Rabiot as new round of talks will take place soon with his mother and agent Veronique. All parties involved are now really confident to get the deal done.

“Juventus are waiting as €17/18m deal has been already agreed.”

This will be good news to Ten Hag, who will be desperate to bring the midfielder into his squad as soon as possible.

Ten Hag needs him

If the enormity of the challenge facing the Dutchman hit home when he arrived in Manchester, then Saturday’s spineless 4-0 defeat to Brentford will surely have him in a state of disbelief.

It's clear he needs to add a few new faces and securing the deal for Rabiot as soon as possible will hopefully provide him with that added bite in the midfield that was sorely lacking at the weekend.

Indeed, new signing Christian Eriksen was unusually lapse in possession, albeit he wasn't given much of a chance by his goalkeeper David De Gea for the second goal.

Meanwhile, Fred was typically out of sorts in the middle, being dragged off at half time after winning just one defensive duel and losing the ball every six touches.

Thus, the addition of a stubborn and battling midfielder like Rabiot would go down well. Former Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo once dubbed Rabiot as a “champion” and having won six Ligue 1 titles and a Serie A crown during his career, Ten Hag could do with a serial winner right now.

The 27-year-old has had his fair share of controversy during his career, but at €18m (£15.2m), he could well be worth the gamble for the Dutchman.

Mainly operating as a defensive midfielder, the Frenchman would certainly add that aforementioned extra bite, ranking in the top 8% of players in Europe's top five leagues for passes intercepted, and the top 2% for tackles in the defensive third. By comparison, Fred ranks in the worst 68% for passes intercepted and in the top 17% for tackles in the defensive third.

Crucially, Rabiot also has an eye for goal. He has netted 26 times, while also registering 23 assists, and considering Man United’s midfield, with Bruno Fernandes aside, contributed a paltry eight goals during the whole of last season. Therefore, he could add in a few crucial strikes as well as extra defensive solidity.

The Old Trafford support may be disappointed that a move for Frenkie de Jong appears to be slipping away, but bringing in someone of Rabiot’s talent could well be a shrewd move for Ten Hag.

Something needs to change, and swiftly, or the coach that many thought would be the one to bring the glory days back to Manchester United could be on the hunt for another job.