Transfer News:
Manchester United are looking to make a number of changes to the team this transfer window, as the club has to add more strength to the midfield department. Michael Carrick announced his retirement from football at the end of last season and hence this means that there is a huge void to fill in the squad currently.
Though Brazilian midfielder Fred has been signed earlier in this window, Jose Mourinho looks to be interested in luring another quality midfield player. A recent report states that United are considering the possibility of pursuing Croatian man Ivan Rakitic from FC Barcelona. Rakitic won the La Liga and the Copa del Rey with the Blaugrana last summer and was instrumental in Ernesto Valverde’s new setup as a deep-lying playmaker.
Rakitic: Player Profile
Ivan is a technically gifted player and has the required work ethic and the passing range to complement his play and become a vital part of any midfield. Rakitic is good with the ball at his feet and his composed demeanour means that he finds the right man in a dangerous position with his vision and creativity in possession. He is versatile and knows what it takes to play in different positions, as Ivan was shunted out wide on occasions last season.
Moreover, he can break the midfield lines with some intelligent link-up play, knows when to storm ahead to add up numbers or when to sit back to thwart the adversary’s creative outlet. According to Whoscored, Rakitic scored once and assisted five times in 35 appearances in the La Liga last season. He made 1.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions on an average but maintained an amazing passing accuracy of 90.3%. Ivan delivered 1.7 key passes too and his combination play in the buildup was crucial for the team.
Should Manchester United make a move?
Having a player like Rakitic in the midfield would be amazing from the club’s perspective, as he would add excellent quality and experience to the midfield. His tendency to remain selfless and close down the spaces in the centre of the park would enable Pogba to attack fearlessly. However, United signed Fred for the same reason and it is impossible to believe that Rakitic would accept a squad role. He is just too good to leave Barcelona currently and has settled well in Spain, having played an integral part in the team ever since his move. United, too, should go for younger alternatives with an eye on the future than investing their time in this deal.
And latest news that Fellaini has been retained for two more seasons also highlights that Rakitic is someone who doesn’t fit in the puzzle right now.