West Ham and Manchester United both made concerted attempts to sign former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer, according to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness).

The French publication claims that the two Premier League teams, along with Galatasaray, were prepared to offer the France international a four-year contract.

However, Rabiot has now decided to join Marseille on a free transfer, ending speculation that the player could make the move to English football.

The 29-year-old’s move to the Stade Velodrome has been described as “improbable” by L’Equipe, with several other English clubs (such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle) having also been credited with an interest in recent months.

West Ham could not afford Rabiot’s wages

The main reason why the Frenchman has taken so long to find a new club (after leaving Juve at the start of July) is due to his salary demands.

His mother and agent Veronique is reportedly a very tough negotiator, and there were claims that she wanted her son to be earning in excess of £200,000 a week.

Considering that trusted sources have said that the Hammers don’t have any room left in the wage budget, it would have been surprising if they had offered Rabiot a contract, unless the proposal came much earlier in the summer.

A centre-back is a priority

Following the additions of Carlos Soler and Guido Rodrguez during the last transfer window, head coach Julen Lopetegui is not exactly short of options in the middle of the park. There is very little need for a player like Rabiot in the first-team squad.

The club are, though, short of numbers in another position. Lopetegui currently has just three senior centre halves in Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos. If the club do make a move for a free agent, that is the area they would consider strengthening.

Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here