David Luiz has a more luxurious mane which is why Rabiot must go

Looks like AS Roma is proving to be the stumbling block when it comes to Arsenal and its transfer targets. As per L’Equipe, Rabiot, the highly rated and versatile PSG midfielder, will go to the Italian club for £12m. His mother Veronique Rabiot, also his agent was reportedly in London negotiating for days with Arsene Wenger, one of Rabiot’s suitors along with Juventus and Tottenham. Arsenal it would appear checked of all the right boxes except possibly that Rabiot’s mother wasn’t exactly happy the 19 year old was going to be an understudy to Mikael Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. Rabiot probably would be a mid to long term prospect considering his age.

Roma also beat out Arsenal to the signing of Kostas Manolas, the Greek centre back seen as a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen. Roma, in turn wanted to fill the shoes of Mehdi Benatia, now at Bayern.

Why has Roma jumped ahead of Milan and Inter in challenging for the Scudetto? Well, because it’s under American management, specifically, hedge fund investors, not old family money. Ambition and financials like ROI fuel their drive. Thomas R DiBenedetto, till very recently the chairman of Roma is also a Fenway Sporting Group partner, owners of Liverpool. The new owners have big, big plans for the eternal city.