Adrien Rabiot to Arsenal: PSG manager Laurent Blanc 'annoyed' by midfielder's transfer request

Rabiot has asked to leave PSG on loan in January with Arsenal the most likely destination due to their lengthy injury list

Adrien Rabiot could join Arsenal for the rest of the season (Getty Images)

Arsenal received a boost ahead of their potential January transfer business after France Under-21 midfielder Adrien Rabiot asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain, but he has angered manager Laurent Blanc in the process of his request.

Rabiot has featured regularly for PSG this season in the absence of Marco Verratti after the Italy international suffered an ankle injury, but the assumption is that he will return to the starting line-up at the expense of Rabiot once he has fully recovered.

It has led Rabiot to ask the club for a short-term move, with long-time admirers Arsenal looking to bring in new faces in January due to the serious injuries suffered by Francis Coquelin and Santo Cazorla, but Blanc has admitted that the request has left him “annoyed” ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

“It annoys me,” said Blanc. “I don’t want to say anymore and I’m going to concentrate on tomorrow’s match.

“Adrien has to understand that when you have the possibility of going at the end of your contract and to leave for free, you can do it.

“Otherwise, when you sign a contract of five years with PSG, you have to respect your first club.”

PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot has asked to leave the club on loan (Getty Images)

Rabiot agreed a long-term deal in October 2014 that ties him down to the club until the summer of 2019, although he came close to leaving earlier this year when Roma mounted an attempt to sign him on a permanent deal.

However, with doubts over his playing time at PSG if Blanc has a fully fit midfield, 20year-old Rabiot appears to be trying to take his future into his own hands and attempt to force his way into the reckoning for France’s Euro 2016 squad next summer.