If you believe the papers, Ivan Rakitic, Sevilla’s crafty midfielder is one of the hottest properties in Europe this January. The last couple of seasons have seen him rise to prominence in La Liga, where he’s had to square off against some of the best midfielders in the world. He had a fantastic 2013 and that’s surely why The Mirror claims that Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all interested.
That’s quite a list of suitors. If the Croatian is game, he could be all set for a move to the Premier League.
But he will face a tough decision. He’s captain of Sevilla and one of their important and beloved players. What’s more, he’s already spoken about wanting to ‘improve and keep growing with this team’. He could be a tough nut to crack.
At 25-years-old, however, he may well feel that the time is right for a move to a big club. If Manchester United were to come knocking, I can’t help but wonder if he’d have his head turned.
As a Croatian playmaker it’s perhaps unsurprising that he’s earned some comparisons to Luka Modric (a former Manchester United target). But whilst Modric’s reputation has suffered over the last couple of seasons, Rakitic’s has grown.
The man has great vision, reads the game well and has the ability to pick out a defense splitting pass. But that’s not the limit to his ability. He’s not afraid to contribute defensively and can also be deployed further up the pitch to support the attack.
But it strikes me that Manchester United need him most for his playmaking ability. Whilst he’s capable of operating as a ball-winning/box-to-box midfielder, that’s not what David Moyes needs him to do. The new Manchester United boss needs him to form a more effective link between The Red Devil’s midfield and their strikers.
If he does manage to chip in with a few goals (he’s already scored 9 this season), then all the better.
There’s no talk as to how much he might cost, but he certainly won’t come cheap. If Manchester United are willing to splash the cash, however, they may just get a man who’s capable of providing them with the cut and thrust that their current midfielders lack.
Here’s hoping that David Moyes is ready to test the waters this January.
What’s your take? Should Manchester United be keeping tabs on this talented Croatian?
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