Jose Mourinho is reportedly eager for Manchester United to deliver him the transfer of Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic in midfield this summer.
So much so, that the Portuguese believes the Red Devils should try to entice Barca into a sale by offering them Paul Pogba as part of the deal, according to Diario Gol.
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This would be quite an ambitious deal to pull off, but shows quite how much Mourinho wants to bring Rakitic into his squad in a major shake-up in midfield this summer.
Pogba certainly hasn’t been at his best for much of his United career, and it could be wise to try and use him as bait to lure big clubs into letting other more suitable players go.
It’s easy to imagine the France international could be better suited to the pace of the game in La Liga, and the style of the play at Barcelona.
Rakitic, meanwhile, would be a fine addition for United to replace Michael Carrick in that deep-lying midfield role, with the club legend retiring at the end of last season.
The Croatian has shown his class at this summer’s World Cup, and it is that ability to consistently deliver on the big stage that will appeal to Mourinho, who arguably lacks those kind of experienced battlers in his current United squad.
