Rakitic is out of contract at Camp Nou next summer, meaning Barcelona will have to sell him in the upcoming transfer window to avoid losing him for free in 2021.
The 32-year-old has been limited to just 10 starts in La Liga this season, having been displaced in the starting lineup following the arrival of Frenkie De Jong, 10 years his junior, last summer.
Rakitic wanted to make his way out of Barcelona in January, voicing his displeasure at the club blocking his exit – and it appears he will push to leave for more regular gametime elsewhere again when the transfer window re-opens in June.
According to Marca, this time Barcelona may well grant him his wish to leave, as they believe they can still attract the same fee they paid for him back in 2014, when they bought him from Sevilla for €18m plus €3m in bonuses.
The Spanish newspaper claims that Barca chiefs still believe Rakitic is worth €20m, while they would also be prepared to negotiate a cash-plus-player swap deal with another club.
Manchester United are the most heavily linked Premier League club, but recent reports suggested that Atletico Madrid had overtaken them with a bid to keep the Croatian in La Liga.
Rakitic had been suggested as a cheaper alternative to Bruno Fernandes before United signed the Portuguese international, but even thereafter, the thought remained that he could become his perfect midfield partner.
However, United may prefer to make longer-term investments on players who could have a good sell-on value – much like Barcelona did when they first bought Rakitic at the age of 26.
