Ivan Rakitic has fallen down the pecking order at Barcelona (Getty Images)
According to the Manchester Evening News, Man United have reignited their interest in Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, with reports claiming that the Red Devils have made a formal approach to sign the 31-year-old Croatian international.
Manchester Evening News understands that the La Liga giants are expected to demand a fee of around £50 million for Rakitic, who is also wanted by French champions PSG this summer.
The same source claims that Barcelona are likely to be open to selling Rakitic due to the arrival of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax in the summer, although the 31-year-old has insisted that the Dutchman’s arrival won’t necessarily affect his position at the club.
Rakitic has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell over the course of his five seasons at Camp Nou, winning four La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League in the 2014-15 season.
The Croatian made his move to Barcelona back in the summer of 2014 and has established himself as one of the key cogs in the midfield for the Catalan giants, racking up a staggering 34 goals and 37 assists in 268 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona.
The 31-year-old wasn’t at his sparkling best this past season but he was still an ever-present in the middle of the park and contributed with 5 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, as Barcelona clinched the La Liga title and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Those numbers are seemingly enough to convince United that Rakitic can still play a big part for them in the Premier League, although it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils decide to go ahead with the deal and meet Barcelona’s huge asking price for the veteran.
To put things into perspective, United reigniting interest in Rakitic might evoke mixed reactions amongst the fans at Old Trafford. While some are likely to regard it as an excellent piece of business for the club, others might consider it a waste of money, given that the player is already 31.
However, it won’t be the worst idea for United to invest in Rakitic, given that he probably has another 2-3 seasons remaining in his prime. The 31-year-old is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in European football and it is not difficult to see that his acquisition could go a long way towards helping the Red Devils post a significant challenge for the Premier League title next term.
Rakitic is tried and tested at the highest level and his arrival would certainly bring that winning mentality to United on and off the field.
The Red Devils need an effective leader in the middle of the park following the departures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera and someone like Rakitic would certainly be a massive upgrade on the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay even at 31.
Lack of stability in the midfield was one of the reasons behind United’s downfall in the Premier League this past season and it was pretty apparent that the Red Devils needed to stop the overdependence on Nemanja Matic, who is probably past his prime.
Rakitic is still the same strong, tenacious and hard-working presence in the middle of the park, whilst also possessing the creativity and vision to add another dimension to his team’s attack.
Noted for his immaculate technique, impeccable ball distribution skills, remarkable vision incredible speed of thought and high levels of stamina, Rakitic is not only a ball-winner in the midfield but he also excels with his ability to carry the ball forward and often acts as the vital link between the midfield and the forward line.
A highly consistent player, the 31-year-old rarely misplaces a pass and is more than capable of chipping in with valuable goals and assists.
United certainly need to invest in younger players to build a strong platform for continued success but they should also prioritise bringing in some proven and tested world-class stars to add that much-needed experience and winning mentality to their ranks.
Paul Pogba certainly falls in that bracket at Old Trafford but the Frenchman’s consistency levels weren’t all that good last season and Rakitic could add that X-factor to United’s midfield.
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Keeping that in mind, Man United have no reason to be put off by Barcelona’s £50 million valuation of Ivan Rakitic, and that said, they should go all out in their pursuit of the 104-cap Croatian enforcer this summer.