Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is reportedly a shock January target for Manchester City, who are still in the market for midfield reinforcements.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Don Balon, Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is the subject of interest from Manchester City. The Premier League champions are weighing up a January move for the 2018 World Cup finalist, who could be open to a move away from Camp Nou, having been told he will not be offered a new contract this season.
Rakitic has progressed leaps and bounds since joining Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2014. So much so, that the Croat is now one of the most important players for the Blaugrana, while also being rated among the best midfielders in the world.
However, there has been an air of uncertainty surrounding the position of the 30-year-old at Camp Nou for some time now. In fact, Rakitic was heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona, with PSG eager to sign him. While he ended up staying put at the club, the player is now on the radar of Manchester City.
Manchester City’s interest in Rakitic is not new, with the Citizens in fact, holding a long-standing interest in the Barcelona midfielder. And, after failing in their numerous attempts to bolster their midfield in the summer, the Premier League champions still remain in the market for a player who could reduce the burden on David Silva.
Rakitic is thus, a viable target, who has the experience of playing in a system similar to the one that Pep Guardiola employs. And, Manchester City stand a decent chance of snapping up the Croatian midfielder, who is unhappy after Josep Maria Bartomeu announced that Barcelona will not be offering him a new contract over the course of this season.
Rakitic, on his part, has insisted that nothing has changed on his part and that he is focused on giving his best for Barcelona. But, Manchester City are looking to exploit the situation he finds himself in, and are weighing up a move for him in the January transfer window.
Rakitic’s €125 million release clause though, could throw a spanner in the works for the Citizens, who might have to pay the figure in its entirety to sign the player. Additionally, landing the 30-year-old in the January transfer window could be a tall order for Manchester City, especially with Barcelona needing their full strength to make a charge for the Champions League title.
For now, Rakitic finds himself in a delicate situation at Barcelona, and it remains to be seen if he ends up making a shock move to the English top-flight in the winter.
