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da spicy bet： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Spanish publication Sport, Manchester United have lined up Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic as one of their “top targets”, if Paul Pogba leaves the club this summer.
What’s the word?
Reports this summer have suggested that Pogba could be on his way out of Old Trafford following comments from himself and his agent Mino Raiola.
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The Red Devils have been linked with a move for long-term target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, but it now appears that the Manchester side have another midfielder on their shortlist.
The report adds that the club “sounded out a possible deal”, and that whilst Barcelona denied that there was an official offer on the table, they expect one to arrive.
A midfield playmaker
Whilst Luka Modric continues to be Croatia’s star man after winning the Ballon d’Or last year, Rakitic has been a picture of consistency himself. The midfielder has enjoyed a stellar career in Spanish football with both Sevilla and Barcelona, and would offer United a calming reassurance in the middle of the park.
In the previous campaign in La Liga, the 31-year-old averaged a superb 74.6 passes per game and boasted an impressive 91.4% pass accuracy. The Croatian has adapted well to the possession-based game at the Camp Nou, but showed in his time at Sevilla that he can offer a goal-scoring presence too.
In the season that eventually earned him his move to Barcelona, Rakitic netted 15 goals and provided a further 18 assists, and if asked to play that more attacking role at United, could help replace some of the goals that will be missed with Pogba’s potential departure.
His ability to dictate the tempo and the style of play at both clubs is evidence of just how smart a footballer the Croatian is, and this would give the Red Devils some control in the middle of the park.
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At 31, Rakitic – valued at £36m by Transfermarkt – may not exactly fit the profile United are seemingly going for this summer. But he remains one of European football’s most accomplished midfielders and would certainly improve Solskjaer’s team next season.
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