Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic in action. (Getty Images)
According to a report from Football Espana, Manchester United are interested in signing Ivan Rakitic as Barcelona are considering selling the midfielder during the January transfer window.
Ivan Rakitic, 31, has been linked with a move away from Nou Camp for the last 12 months after the club stalled on offering him a contract extension this summer. He has not featured regularly so far this season, with Frenkie De Jong operating as Sergio Busquets’ regular partner in the midfield.
The report claims that Inter Milan are also interested in the Croatian international, who is actually the number one transfer target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.
Injuries to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial has exposed Manchester United’s lack of depth in the forward department this season. Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez were shipped off to Inter Milan during the summer but the Red Devils did not replace either forward.
Similarly, Solskjaer sold Marouane Fellaini to China in January and allowed Ander Herrera to depart the club on a free transfer at the end of last season, but failed to bring in any midfield reinforcements during the summer transfer window.
In Paul Pogba, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay, United lack quality as well as depth in midfield to sustain the entire season. Thus, Solskjaer’s one of the top priorities in January would be to bolster his midfield with an experienced head. And Ivan Rakitic would fit the bill.
Rakitic joined Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2014 and has enjoyed his time at Nou Camp. He is a versatile player and can play anywhere from the deep-lying midfield position, to the number 10 role.
The 31-year-old is a fine passer of the ball and possesses wonderful vision to pick out a pass in the final third. The Croat gets forward and likes to contribute to his team’s attacks as much as he can.
The former Sevilla man possesses a winning mentality having won four Copa del Rey trophies, four La Liga titles, a Champions League and even a Europa League.
Just last summer, he helped Croatia reach the final of the World Cup when nobody expected that particular nation to achieve such a feat.
This is what Manchester United need more than ever right now. They are going through a period of transition and they hope to regain their glory days. This takes time and signing Rakitic, even though he has turned 31, would be the right move from Solskjaer’s club.
A vastly experienced player with a winning mentality and international pedigree, Rakitic would be a solid addition to the United midfield desperately crying out for quality and depth.
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