According to L'Equipe, PSG’s Adrien Rabiot has refused a new contract offer from the club and could leave on a free transfer next summer.

What’s the story?

The French midfielder was a regular in the PSG midfield last season, making 27 starts (and 33 appearances overall) across the course of the Ligue 1 campaign. However, with the likes of Marco Verratti, Julian Draxler and Giovani Lo Celso all vying for minutes in the centre of the park for the French giants, Rabiot could conceivably see his game time lessen this time around. 

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With the 23-year-old reluctant to sign a new contract and tie his future down at the Parc des Princes, he leaves his employers in an awkward situation. With less than 12-months left to run on his current deal, Rabiot could leave the club as a free agent next summer.

Even a club as wealthy as PSG would hate to miss out on a fee in exchange for a player valued at £45 million by Transfermarkt. If the capital club can’t convince Rabiot to agree to new terms, they may have to consider selling him for a cut price fee in January.

Arsenal ought to be alive to this possibility and ex-PSG boss Unai Emery should be keen to reunite with his old charge in North London.

A perfect match?

Emery began work on remoulding the Gunners’ midfield contingent to suit his own needs this summer. The restructuring began with the release of Jack Wilshere and the signings of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi.

However, the midfield at the Emirates Stadium has a long way to go before it’ll feel entirely Emery’s own. Bringing in a player such as Rabiot, who Emery has worked with successfully before, would move this process along and he could prove to be the impressive Guendouzi's long-term midfield partner.

The chance to sign such a talented young midfielder in a cut price deal or on a pre-contract agreement isn't one that Arsenal can afford to miss.