El Confidencial reports Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic could be sold for the ‘right price’. The decision might be taken to finance the new Lionel Messi contract, who is demanding to be the highest earner in the club. Manchester City could be the Croatian’s likeliest destination as Pep Guardiola is in the market for a creative midfielder.

El Confidencial reporter Alonso Castilla wrote: “He’s(Rakitic) lost weight in the team in recent times, when last year he was practically untouchable due to his tremendous work rate.

“But now his situation is not the same and Man City appear on the horizon for the Croatian central midfielder.

“Pep Guardiola has sounded him out as the perfect substitute for the injured Gundogan.

“It is known that the footballer will not have any problem changing his shirt if there is extra money to be earned.”

He wrote about Messi;s contract negotiations, “An operation has taken shape in recent moments to cut millions of euros [from Barca’s budget] and allow the club to fund the new deal which they will present to their star [Messi].”