The January transfer window may be far away, and next summer even further than that, but that won’t stop clubs from planning long in advance.
As well as the usual search for new players, there will be plenty of clubs around Europe considering which players they can move on.
Barcelona are one such club, and their desire to get rid of players could end up benefitting Manchester United.
Marca explain today that Barça are already planning who they can move on from the club as they need to balance the budget before June 30th next year.
This means several players are on the chopping block and chief among them is midfielder Ivan Rakitić.
The newspaper says it’s an ‘open secret’ he could leave the club in the January transfer window and he ‘tops the list’ of possible departures.
Rakitić was close to leaving this summer when he realised Ernesto Valverde would not be using him and that’s even clearer to him now.
He could, therefore, seek to leave in January, and there are several teams likely to be interested, including Manchester United and Juventus.
Both of those sides were keen in the summer, and Marca say they ‘do not lose sight’ of the player.
It’s not explained what price Barcelona would be looking, just that Manchester United would be keen if he is available again.
Rakitić’s stance is also unknown at this point, but it seems if United push hard enough, this is a big January move they may be able to get over the line.
