According to a recent report by Sport, Chelsea are plotting a move to secure the signature of Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic at the end of this campaign. The same report has revealed that the Pensioners are eager to bring the Croatia international to Stamford Bridge if he becomes available next summer.
However, Sport also goes on to claim that the West London giants would face stiff competition from Arsenal and Manchester United in pursuit of the La Liga sensation in June.
Rakitic has been a regular presence in Ernesto Valverde’s first-team during this campaign. He has been an integral asset for Barca over the past few years since his arrival from Sevilla in the summer of 2014. The former FC Basel starlet has featured in 30 matches for the La Liga giants this term, registering three goals while also creating six assists in all competitions.
The Croat talent is a legitimate goal-threat from midfield and has also been a creative force for the Catalans in the recent past. He has the ability to pick out a final pass and can also operate in a box to box role at the centre of the park.
Rakitic is not that quick, but he is still quite an accomplished dribbler with the ball as he is always willing to take on his marker if he sees an opening in the opposition half. Moreover, the Barca talent can strike the ball with a lot of power and accuracy as has been evidenced by his wonder goal against Tottenham Hotspur at the Wembley Stadium in the UEFA Champions League earlier this season.
The acquisition of a proven midfielder like Rakitic will add a lot of quality to the Chelsea midfield which has looked a bit stagnant and constipated at times in this campaign. N’Golo Kante has often played out of his natural position while Jorginho has been guilty of playing the safe passes and has not been as inventive as the Chelsea fans would like him to be when he takes his place as a holding midfielder in Maurizio Sarri’s first-team.
Moreover, the likes of Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Danny Drinkwater have all failed to find consistency in a Chelsea shirt this season, which is why they should do everything in their power to lure the Croatia international to Stamford Bridge next summer.
