Rakitic: Chelsea poised to take advantage of Barça's finances
Although the Croatia midfielder wants to remain at Camp Nou, the arrival of Frenkie de Jong and Barça's need to sell has alerted Chelsea to a possible deal.
Barcelona’s financial situation and the summer arrival of Frenkie de Jong may spell the end of Ivan Rakitic’s Camp Nou career with Chelsea poised to make a bid for the Croatia midfielder.
Catalan daily Sport on Tuesday reported that Maurizio Sarri is a firm admirer of Rakitic and has instructed the Stamford Bridge board to make an enquiry as to his availability next summer. Although the midfielder’s preference is to remain at Barça, the huge investment made in Ajax star De Jong suggests that the 21-year-old will be an automatic starter for the Liga champions and Rakitic, whose contract expires in 2021, could be one of the players Barça decide to put on the market to help balance the books.
Rakitic: "I want more at Barcelona"
“I’m 30 years old and in the best moment of my career. The manager and the president know my feelings. I want more at Barcelona,” Rakitic said at the Mundo Deportivo awards on Monday. The midfielder and his agent are currently in talks with the club about a new deal but Barça’s priorities in the summer transfer market are a defender and a striker and the club’s enormous wage bill means that players will have to be sold.
The club and manager Ernesto Valverde are more than happy with Rakitic but Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu knows that he will have to part with at least one big name player and despite his consistent performance levels Rakitic fits that bill.
