Latest reports are telling that Manchester United are interested in swooping up the services of Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic. There has been no confirmation by either party regarding the move, however, the circumstances developing around the club and the player has led to a situation believing that the player could be in for a possible move to Old Trafford.
The 29-year-old Croatian plays in the centre of the midfield and has been a vital cog in Barcelona’s midfield. The midfielder provides the perfect cover in the middle of the park for his frontmen to attack while also supplying sublime balls from time to time for them to finish. He also has a rare knack for popping up on occasions to finish off moves by scoring goals from both inside and outside the box.
However, with the arrival of Coutinho, Rakitic’s position in the team may be under threat. Although the Brazilian is not a direct replacement for the Serbian, Coutinho is the club’s record signing and Ernesto Valverde might readjust the formation of his team to include the former Liverpool star, thereby leaving Rakitic stranded. This has prompted the playmaker to think that his time at Nou Camp might be coming to an end and allowed interested clubs to wait patiently till summer to scoop the player.
As for United, it is widely known that the Portuguese mastermind is looking for a third starting midfielder besides Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba. In Paul Pogba they have a world beater who can play the box-to-box role. They also have Nemanja Matic who would be ideal to hold up behind and shield the defence all day long.
This would leave Rakitic, should he make the move, to take over the role of a playmaker. He can play alongside Pogba and Matic in a three-man midfield thereby allowing Pogba to roam around in the final third without having to drop too deep to retrieve the ball. However, given the player’s importance and the team he is playing for, a move looks highly improbable.
What could perhaps force United’s hand is, however, another piece of news; a report about Pogba leaving the club. This is what his agent had to say on the matter.
“If things are not going well, I try to do my job, to find satisfactory solutions for my players and the clubs. At the moment, Paul hasn’t told me anything and I know he won’t move without having won a title. There isn’t as big a war with Mourinho as has been reported, but in the transfer market, you never tell the truth and you can never say never.”
Pogba’ departure would indeed leave a crater of a hole in United and the club could be looking to fill up that with Rakitic.
