Man Utd hopes of snaring midfield maestro dashed in emphatic fashion

Ivan.Rakitic.Barcelona.TEAMtalk

The chances of a midfield maestro moving to Man Utd appear to be over with the latest report revealing it is a return to former club ‘Sevilla or nothing.’

Midfield had long been an area of concern for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Man Utd, with the continued speculation surrounding Paul Pogba’s future summing up their woes.

The highly-publicised arrival of Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes went some way to settling the Old Trafford faithful’s nerves, while Scott McTominay’s continued development and Fred’s return to the fore have provided timely boosts.

However, if the Red Devils are to return to trophy-winning ways, greater strength in depth is required.

Man Utd have chosen to take a different approach in the transfer window of late, opting to go for players either in or entering their prime with a view to them experiencing their best years in Manchester.

Gary Neville has gone on record as stating Utd require the addition of experienced heads to nurture the blossoming core of young talent, and one such player on their radar was classy Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

The veteran Croatian, 32, had fallen down the pecking order at the Camp Nou, leading to rumours of a January exit that, much to his chagrin, did not materialise.

The door to Old Trafford appeared to swing open recently when Barcelona paved the way for his exit, but the latest report from the Spanish media has seemingly put an end to every club’s hopes barring Sevilla.

 

Online publication FootballEspana (who cite Diario Sport) reveal that put simply, it is ‘Sevilla or nothing.’

Rakitic’s connection with the Seville club runs deep, having spent four years with the club prior to his move to Catalonia.

Rakitic captained his side to Europa League glory in his last act with Sevilla in 2014, and the article notes that his ‘preference is for a return to the Andalusian club,’ where his wife is also from.

Meanwhile, legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has weighed in with a strong opinion on the notion that Dean Henderson should replace David de Gea between the sticks next season.