Inter are moving forward with their plans to acquire Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, according to report from Catalan media outlet Sport.
The report details how members of the Nerazzurri’s management were in Barcelona this week, negotiating the deal that would see the 31-year-old Croatian leave the Blaugrana to join Inter.
The negotiations are helped by the great relationship between the two sides, with both parties happy for a deal to take place. The Blaugrana don’t consider Rakitic necessary to their future plans and are keen to sell him in January.
Therefore, Inter Sporting Director Piero Ausilio had asked for a meeting to discuss the transfer.
If Inter qualify for the next round of the Champions League, the report highlights, then they would push very hard to finalise this deal as early as late November. The Nerazzurri have asked to start discussions with Rakitic and are already considering thinning out the midfield in order to make space for him.
Barcelona value Rakitic at around €35 million, the report adds, a lower price than previously estimated due to his lack of play time and his contract expiring in June of 2021.
The Croatian’s entourage has already started probing the market and is aware of Inter’s interest in him.
