Why Chelsea must go all out to sign Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona

According to a report from talkSPORT, Premier League giants Chelsea are on high alert after Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic’s contractual roadblock.

The Croatian international is believed to have asked for a new and improved deal following his World Cup exploits. However, Rakitic has now been informed that he must wait until at least next season before any new contract (h/t talkSPORT).

“For this campaign, we will not be able to go through with the gesture that Rakitic is asking of us,” Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Onda Cero, as quoted by talkSPORT.

“Next season we can look at it in relation to our new revenue.”

This development has reportedly caught the eye of Chelsea, who are open to meet his wage demands in order to sign him once the winter window opens in four months’ time (h/t talkSPORT).

Rakitic, 30, joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2014, initially penning a five-year contract. In 2017, he extended his stay until 2021, in a deal that included a release clause of €125million, as per ESPN FC.

Since joining the club, the Croatian international has gone on to make 220 appearances, scoring 30 goals and setting up 29 more. In the process, the 30-year-old has won three La Liga titles, four Copa Del Rey trophies and a UEFA Champions League trophy as well.

Regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the game, Rakitic, along with compatriot Luka Modric, played an integral role as Croatia made it all the way to the finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia earlier this year.

In the 2018/19 campaign, the midfielder hasn’t missed a single game for Barcelona, chipping in with a goal and two assists in 6 matches across all competitions.

Chelsea are pretty well-stocked when it comes to the midfield department. Starting with summer signings Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic (on loan from Real Madrid), manager Maurizio Sarri has the luxury to call upon World Cup winner N’Golo Kante and former World Champion Cesc Fabregas. England internationals Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also competing for a spot in the middle of the park.

Danny Drinkwater is also part of the roster but is likely to be shipped out in January (h/t The Guardian), while Fabregas could also be on the move, amidst strong interest from Italian giants AC Milan (h/t The Sun). And with no permanent transfer clause in Kovacic’s loan deal, the Croatian international should return to Madrid once the season is over.

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So, there would be a vacancy in the middle of the park. And considering Rakitic’s class and quality, he will be able to fill the void. At 30 years of age, he is in his peak years and has plenty to offer. Moreover, the midfielder is an astute passer blessed with great vision and has an eye for the goal as well, making him an ideal fit for any of the three midfield positions in Sarri’s 4-3-3 setup.

With his proven credentials, years of experience and winning mentality, the Croatian international has the potential to be an excellent addition for the Blues. If there is a possibility of signing him in January, Chelsea simply must not let it pass.