Chelsea’s Outrageous Bid For Barcelona Star Revealed
Jan 1, 2017 at 11:08 AM
As per the latest reports from Spanish media outlets, the relationship of Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic with club’s manager Luis Enrique is reportedly growing increasingly strained – and the Premier League top clubs are ready to snap the signature of the Croatian star.
According to the Spanish publication Don Balon, Luis Enrique is still fuming at the Rakitic’s suggestion that he’d like to play under Man City manager Pep Guardiola.
Another publication from Spain Mundo Deportivo claimed last week that Croatia international was set to sign a new contract deal at Catalan club amid interest from two Premier League’s top clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Chelsea have already tried to contact the unhappy midfielder’s agent to talk about a January move while Manchester United are after Rakitic in order to strengthen their midfield. However, the Blues are believed to be more interested in signing the Barcelona playmaker and they are ready to match the La Liga giants demands.
Juventus are also reportedly ready to spend big next summer, with Rakitic said to be on their shortlist of midfield targets.
However, the reports suggest that agreement is far from sealed as Rakitc is demanding a similar salary wages to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Luis Enrique apparently is willing to splash the cash on his star men – but he views Rakitc as expendable. The news is expected to put Chelsea and United on red alert as they plot their January transfer strategies.
Rakitic has joined the Catalan giants from Sevilla back in 2014 and has gone on to become one of the best midfield players across the Europe.
Despite the latest rumours surrounding Rakitic’s future, his agent Arturo Canales has previously claimed the midfielder is loving life at the La Liga champions.
Canales said: “Ivan is very happy at FC Barcelona, where he has been tremendously successful and has a contract with the club until 2019.”