Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Manchester United to sign Ivan Rakitic as Paul Pogba’s replacement, according to reports in Spain.
Pogba has made it clear that he wants to leave Old Trafford this summer, while both Real Madrid and Juventus have expressed an interest in the World Cup winner.
Barcelona, meanwhile, face the prospect of selling more than one high-profile player as they seek to fund big-money moves for Antoine Griezmann and Neymar, who has expressed his desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain and prefers a return to Camp Nou.
According to Sport, Solskjaer is ‘uneasy’ about Pogba’s current situation and has made Rakitic his first-choice replacement if the France international leaves United.
The report claims that United have already spoken to Barcelona about potential deals for both Rakitic and their French centre-back Samuel Umtiti, but more recently the Premier League club enquired solely about the Croatian midfielder.
United are understood to have made an opening offer of €35 million (£30.5m) for Rakitic but the bid was considered ‘totally inadequate’ by Barcelona.
The Spanish champions are open to selling Rakitic but are demanding at least €50m (£43.6m) for the 31-year-old.
United, meanwhile, are on the verge of officially announcing their £50m deal to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace.
