Arsenal agree deal for Barcelona superstar, Liverpool agree deal for Manchester City transfer target and more: Transfer Roundup, 29 January 2019

Chelsea prepare £58 million bid for Ivan Rakitic with Manchester United also interested

Ivan Rakitic in action against Girona

As per Diario Sport, Chelsea are preparing to launch a £58 million bid to sign Ivan Rakitic. The report claims that Chelsea's Premier League rivals Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the Croatian international.

Rakitic had earlier insisted that he wants to stay at the Nou Camp despite multiple reports linking him with a move away from the club. Rakitic's current contract at Barcelona is set to run out in 2021 and the Cules are not intending to offer him a new deal any time soon.

Rakitic said at Mundo Deportivo's annual gala,

"I want to be at Barcelona and, if I can renew my contract, I want to be here for many more years,"

"I am really happy here, everyone knows that, above all the president [Josep Maria Bartomeu]. I don't have anything else to say [about my future]."

Frenkie De Jong's arrival from Ajax on a reported £75 million deal is set to intensify the competition for a midfield spot at Barcelona and with age not on his side, Rakitic's future might lie away from Barceona.