Man Utd and Liverpool enter race to sign Barcelona midfielder

According to Spanish outlet Don Balon, Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Ivan Raitic.

With Andres Iniesta leaving Barcelona the summer, the Catalonian club ought to fight to keep the Croatian at Camp Nou as the same report suggests Rakitic’s teammates are desperate for him to remain at the club. Messi allegedly views him as an ‘essential piece of equipment’.

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Rakitic, 30, signed for Barcelona in 2014 after leaving fellow La Liga side Sevilla (less said about that lot the better after this year’s Champions League elimination). He has gone on to make a 213 appearances across all competition, contributing to 57 goals, including assists. That period has seen Rakitic win three La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and one Champions League, yet his future remains uncertain.

Don Balon believe he would be open to the right move.

United should be in the hunt for one or two midfield additions at least after Michael Carrick announced retirement and Marouane Fellaini’s move to AC Milan edges closer, as per the Independent.

Liverpool, on the other hand, face losing Emre Can to Juventus this summer, cited by the Guardian, while James Milner will turn 33 during the course of next season. Naby Keita is being brought in to provide some combative quality, but Rakitic is highly creative and would provide more firepower to any Premier League club’s attack should he move from Barcelona.

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