Tottenham have emerged as frontrunners in the race to sign Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic, according to reports in Spain.
Last week we relayed a Mundo Deportivo story that claimed Jose Mourinho has asked the Spurs hierarchy to look into buying Rakitic this summer. And now, the same Spanish newspaper is reporting that the Londoners have moved ahead of the midfielder’s former club Sevilla in the battle to acquire his services.
Mundo Deportivo believes Rakitic could be tempted to join Tottenham because his trusted representative, Arturo Canales, is London-based. The report also raises the possibility of Tanguy Ndombele moving in the other direction.
A recent Sky Sports story suggested Barcelona are willing to offer defenders Samuel Umtiti and Nelson Semedo in exchange for Ndombele, but Mundo Deportivo are hinting the Catalans may now be willing to include Rakitic in a part-exchange deal instead.
It makes sense that Spurs will be less reluctant to accept an offer for Ndombele if they receive a top-class midfielder in return, although the defence is arguably in greater need of additions.
In any case, the Telegraph claims Ndombele wants to remain at Tottenham, while Daniel Levy is apparently keen to keep hold of him. How this affects Rakitic’s future remains to be seen.
I think we need more home grown based players or would need to move someone out to facilitate this move. Tanguay going the other way would only work if they included a fee of over £40 million probably close to £45 million to tempt Levy. Ivan great player as he is is not the sort of player Levy likes buying. This deal could work but I don’t think it will.
What about all 3 Barca players mentioned in exchange for Tanquay. Its seems those players from France we are buying lately are not up to standard.
What a lot of bollocks is written.
Levy has always gone for younger players with a good sell on possibility later on.
Now we are linked to Rakitic at 32 and Willian at 31.
In Willian’s case, we were not good enough for him in 2013, so I wouldn’t take him on even if we were paid to.I hope we have some pride left.
Most of these transfer links are not worth the ink used to write them.
Pathetic.