The outcome on the Adrien Rabiot transfer saga is imminent
Barcelona are going to wait this week to see if his signing is viable or not, whilst PSG are set to offer the player fresh terms to stay
The potential transfer deal for Adrien Rabiot has reached its decisive moment. Barcelona have done everything possible to sign the midfielder but now it's up to the player himself to make a decision on his future.
Barcelona have other alternatives but will give Rabiot one week to make a decision as they want to finalise their squad as soon as possible.
Rabiot has always made it clear that signing for Barça would be a dream but would need to leave the team he's been with since he was a child. The outcome to the Rabiot saga is imminent.
key meeting
Rabiot's entourage will meet with PSG this week in order to reach a solution one way or another. The French club are doing everything in their power to convince Rabiot to stay, and now the president of PSG is getting involved.
PSG, like Barça, have made a list of alternatives should Rabiot depart but none of those appear likely to join. Kante and Pjanic were two of the most prominent names to appear on the club's agenda.
Without a top class replacement for Rabiot, PSG believe the best option would be for the midfielder to sign a new contract at the club. They've made a new, much higher offer to Rabiot and now the ball is in his court.
At the moment everything is possible. The player felt marginalised in recent seasons and wanted a change of scenery as he looked to get his career back on track.
Barça are waiting on the verdict of that meeting. They know that their only chance of signing the midfielder is if he tells PSG he won't sign a new deal and wants to join Barcelona. This is because his contract only has 12 months left on it and the French champions won't want to lose him for nothing next summer.
If Rabiot does leave, Barça will make an offer to PSG which might be accepted. The player himself isn't asking for a lot of money but rather a more prominent role in the first team picture.
The meeting is expected to take place later this week and should prove crucial to the final outcome. Barça aren't interested in a long, drawn out battle with PSG or the player. Ernesto Valverde has made it a priority to sign a midfielder, one who could slot straight into the first team.
The coach has publicly stated his wish to reinforce this area of his squad and Barça's remaining budget is allocated for one key addition. Valverde also knows how beneficial it is to bring in players as quickly as possible to help their adaptation to the club.
The sporting department has done all they can and now the decision rests with Rabiot. The footballer will return to France in the next few hours following PSG's tour of Asia and he'll need to make a choice regarding his future.
Rabiot has become the number one priority at Barça this summer in order to finalise the first team squad. Valverde, and Barça, have alternatives but the plan is to bring somebody in so they are ready to play a part in the club's first chance of silverware this season: the Spanish Super Cup.
