Paris Saint-Germain have made Barcelona target Adrien Rabiot untouchable this summer, according to Marca. 

Rabiot has been identified as the priority target to strengthen Blaugrana’s midfield after the departures of Andres Iniesta and Paulinho. That, too, even after a deal for Brazilian midfielder Arthur was concluded.

It was hoped a transfer would be easy to negotiate given Rabiot is in the final year of his current contract. However, PSG are hoping to tie the midfielder to a contract extension and insist they will not be forced to sell – a message likely being sent as much for Real Madrid‘s benefit as Barcelona’s, given Madrid’s rumoured interest in Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

PSG are also reluctant to enter into talks with Barcelona after being unimpressed with the Spanish club’s tactics when trying to sign Marco Verratti last summer.

Relations between the two clubs soured further after Neymar’s world-record move to the French capital from Barcelona last August.