Manchester United are plotting a move to sign Ivan Rakitic in the January transfer window according to reports. The Barcelona midfielder has caught Jose Mourinho’s eye and the former Chelsea manager wants to bring him to Old Trafford.
The Barcelona midfielder’s current contract at Camp Nou expires in 2019 but Jose Mourinho is keen on making a move and Manchester United will jump to sign him should he choose not to sign the new contract offered by the Catalan giants. Rakitic has scored 19 goals in 123 appearances for Barcelona. He made his debut for the Catalan outfit back in 2014 but the 28-year-old is yet to agree to a new deal.
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Mourinho is scouring the market for midfield reinforcements following a difficult start for his side in the Premier League this term. The Red Devils manager is on the lookout for a player to partner Andre Herrera in the center of the midfield so that Paul Pogba can play in his favoured #10 position.
This is not the first time Manchester United are trying to sign him. El Mundo Deportivo claimed that the midfielder rejected the offers from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Juventus in the summer. All three clubs were chasing the Barcelona man as they wanted to have a proper central midfielder in their squad.
Reports suggested that Jose Mourinho was still keen on the Croatia international, even after landing Paul Pogba for 89 million pounds from Juventus. Also, Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte wanted the former Sevilla man to line up alongside N'Golo Kante in a new-look Chelsea midfield.
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Rakitic was substituted regularly by Luis Enrique last season but he is now one of their best players. He is also in line to extend his contract at Camp Nou but the player is reportedly not happy with the offer from the Catalan Giants.
Landing the Croatian would be a tough task for any club as Barcelona see him as a long-term replacement for Xavi Hernandez. He is proving his worth for the club and also scored in the Champions League final in his first season with the Catalan club when the Spanish giants defeated Juventus.
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