Barcelona’s one priority right now is agreeing a new contract with Lionel Messi.
The Catalan giants are desperate for their main man to put pen to paper with the Argentinian superstar’s current deal expiring in 18 months.
However, money appears to be a stumbling block.
Barca need to raise funds in order to pay his improved wages, and that is only going to happen by selling other players.
Ultimately, El Confidencial report, that could work in Manchester City’s favour.
Pep Guardiola is on the hunt for another creative midfielder with Ilkay Gundogan in the treatment room for a long spell.
That has brought Barca’s Ivan Rakitic to his attention, with the Croatian international struggling for game time under Luis Enrique.
Gundogan’s City debut was delayed because of injury, and now he is out again, so Guardiola must be worrying that this is going to be a recurring theme for the German at the Etihad.
Rakitic could get City playing like Barcelona, but Guardiola needs to sort out their defence too if he is going to make playing for the Sky Blues an attractive proposition.
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