MANCHESTER UNITED chiefs are reportedly worried at the Red Devils’ season under Jose Mourinho.
Manchester United are on course to finish second – a significant improvement on their sixth-placed finish under Mourinho last season.
They will also compete in a third cup final in two season when they take on Chelsea with FA Cup glory at stake later this month.
Yet Spanish website Diario Gol say Mourinho is aware of Manchester United’s discontent at their lack of huge progress – and is targeting a Barcelona transfer in order to get the Red Devils firing once again.
It is said the 54-year-old has earmarked Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic as a priority signing.
The Croatia international has been a huge Nou Camp hit ever since his arrival from Sevilla in 2014.
In the time since, he has won three La Liga titles and fired them to Champions League glory in the process.
Yet Diario Gol say Rakitic could now leave Barcelona in order to secure one final big transfer.
The Croatia star turned 30 in March and is said to want time to consider United’s offer.
Mourinho has already expressed a desire to sign a midfielder and, though Fred is understood to be their top target, Rakitic may also be on his way.
In February, he said: “We need to sign a midfield player because we are going to lose Michael Carrick.
“Of course, we need balance in the team. I told you that one or two months ago when we were speaking about the market.
“When some of you keep saying that we are going to buy that striker, that winger, that left winger, that right winger, I told you two months ago.
“You can accuse me of many, many things, but you cannot say that I lied to you. When I don’t want to say things, I don’t say. But I don’t take you in other directions.
“When I told you a couple of months ago that we don’t want to sign any striker or any winger and, yes, we are looking and we are going to try to sign a midfield player, I told you that two months ago.”
Source:www.express.co.uk