'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With David Moyes still very keen to add some creativity to his Manchester United midfield, it’s anyone’s guess who he’ll target this coming January and next summer. Thiago Alcantara, Ander Herrera, and Cesc Fabregas were targeted this past summer, but no deal was completed with any of them for varying reasons.
Miralem Pjanic is the latest name linked, but with Roma flying high in Serie A and under no pressure to sell following the money they brought in through the summer sales of Erik Lamela and Marquinhos, a deal there also seems unlikely to happen. One player yet to be linked though, but who could prove a fantastic addition, is Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic.
The 25-year-old Croatia international, since signing from Schalke in January 2011, has seen his stock rise greatly. He has become an integral figure for the La Liga outfit, proving to be a real leader for them as club captain as well as a real creative force. He is one of the few bright spots Sevilla fans can relish in what has been a difficult period for a club which hasn’t finished in the top-six in the last three seasons despite being a top-four contender prior to that.
Given his immense talent and work rate, it’s very possible he could make a similar significant impact at United. A versatile player, he is capable of playing in any of the three central positions in a tactical system–defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and attacking midfielder–and has done so in the nine appearances he has made so far this season.
Last season, given the impressive defensive midfield duo of Geoffrey Kondogbia and Gary Medel, both of whom have now moved on to pastures new, he played predominantly behind lone striker Alvaro Negredo. There, he enjoyed his best season as a Sevilla player to date. He was at his creative best–in fact, the league’s creative best–setting up a very impressive 100 chances for his team-mates, set-pieces included. The 10 assists he got, meanwhile, was the league’s joint fifth-most. This term, the midfielder has created 11 chances, getting two assists.
La Liga’s Top Chance Creators (Last Season)
Averaging five long passes per game, it’s clear he likes to try and spread the play, while 25 through balls attempted with an accuracy of 48% shows he can go for the kill and split the defence wide open. The latter is precisely what has been missing from United’s central midfield for quite some time.
But Rakitic would bring more than fresh ideas to Moyes’ midfield. Given his advanced role, he wasn’t required to put in much of a defensive shift last season, averaging just 1.5 tackles and one interception per game. But following the exits of Kondogbia and Medel as well as captain Andres Palop, Rakitic has assumed more responsibility this season, averaging an improved 2.4 tackles and three interceptions per game so far as he plays in different positions for the good of his team. He must work on his discipline, however, having collected 10 yellow cards and two red cards last season and four yellows so far this campaign.
Ivan Rakitic Duels Won This Season
In addition to improving his defensive contribution, he looks set to improve his goal return as well, netting five goals in his nine appearances this campaign after grabbing eight in all of last season. With 11 chances created so far this season, his creative output has so far dipped slightly compared to last season (2.9 chances per game compared to 1.2), but ‘chances created’ involves two parties–the passer and the shooter–and both parties need to be on the same wave length.
Ivan Rakitic Goals Scored
Unai Emery’s attack, consisting of Jairo, Marko Marin, Vitolo, Carlos Bacca, and Kevin Gameiro, it will take time for Rakitic to develop a proper understanding with them. Once that understanding is truly there, his chances created numbers should improve.
Overall, the mental as well as physical step-up he has made in order to cushion the losses of key players over the summer is phenomenal and is the mark of a truly gifted player. However, whether Sevilla would sanction the sale of their newly-appointed captain remains to be seen, but given his quality, it’s definitely worth a try.
