Amid claims teammate knows about ‘tempting’ Liverpool offer, player’s importance highlighted

Don Balon are probably Spain’s transfer nonsense providers in chief, but their claims end up around Europe nonetheless.

One recent example is an article which stated Luis Suarez knows Ivan Rakitic has a ‘tempting’ proposal to join Liverpool.

Rakitic has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some years, with Liverpool popping up as an option repeatedly. Signing the Croatian would be a great move from Jurgen Klopp and it’s certainly an idea to get fans excited, which is likely to have been the point.

However, back in reality, AS have an article on Wednesday which shows how difficult it would be for Liverpool to sign the midfielder. Ernesto Valverde has been using Rakitic and Sergio Busquets in a double pivot, so keen is he to involve the Croatian as much as possible.

Whilst two deeper midfielders isn’t something most would associate with the Barcelona style, the Spanish newspaper explain it’s been working and helping the attack as much as the defence, underlining Rakitic’s importance to his manager.

Rakitic has 39 appearances for Barcelona so far this season, mainly as a starter.

On a contract renewed last year, which now lasts until 2021, the 29 year old seems quite secure where he is.