Manchester United open talks to sign Barcelona’s 30-year-old midfielder: report

Manchester United are reported to have made an initial approach to pursue Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic during this summer’s transfer window.

The Croatian has been an influential figure in the Blaugrana ranks in recent years, but has still been associated with a probable summer exit.

According to Don Balon, Jose Mourinho is keen on pursuing the former Sevilla man as he seeks to strengthen the midfield department for the 2018/19 season and beyond.

United currently have the likes of Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay to deploy in midfield, but half of them may have left the club by next season.

Whilst Carrick is due to take up a coaching role after retirement, the futures of Fellaini and Herrera are hanging in the balance with the former leaning towards Bosman exit from Old Trafford.

Rakitic, now 30, would undoubtedly add precision with his passing abilities in the centre of the park, but he is likely to demand assurances of regular gametime, should a move go through.

Mourinho has stuck with Pogba and Matic as his preferred combination in a two-man setup, and this probably lessens the importance of Rakitic, unless a 4-3-3 formation is deployed.

Irrespective of this, there is expected to be some business done to bolster the midfield during the off-season, and sources suggest Mourinho feels the urge to invest in the Croatian.