Yesterday there were rumours from Spain that reported that Barcelona coach, Ernesto Valverde, considers Ivan Rakitic to be an important part of the Barcelona midfield for the future and would be ready to veto any transfer in order to keep the Croatian.

However, Gazzetta dello Sport are today reporting that there is an agreement between Inter and Barcelona and now the Croatian is just one step away from becoming an Inter player.

“It is understandable that the coach is trying to keep one of his starters and key players close, but it is also clear that Barcelona have huge financial responsibilities that are weighing down their budget.

“Based on that, it seems that Rakitic might have to be sacrificed, especially considering the fact that they have acquired De Jong and possibly Rabiot. So both Inter and Rakitic are not bothered by all these rumours in the media.

“This upcoming week will be important as all the parties will continue to discuss the payment methods and bonuses, as the price seems to already be agreed upon: around 40 million euros.

“Meanwhile, Dejan Rakitic (brother and agent of Ivan) is ready to sit at the table with Inter in order to discuss a contract. He knows that Inter can offer him 6.5 million euros a year until 2022.

“In conclusion, there are no substantial obstacles in the way of this deal.”