Manchester make move to sign Barcelona midfielder

Manchester United have reportedly retained their interest in signing Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona during this summer's transfer window.

The Red Devils have been linked with the Croatian in the past year and they appear to have re-entered the race to sign him with Ander Herrera parting ways with the club at the end of the month.

According to Sport, the Mancunian giants are understood to have made an opening bid worth £31m to sign the former Sevilla man but the Blaugrana have swiftly rejected their advances.

The report adds that the Catalan giants remain open to the sale of the 2018 World Cup finalist but they want at least £45m to sanction his departure during the summer transfer window.

Aside from Rakitic, United are also said to hold an interest in signing defender Samuel Umtiti from the Blaugrana, but the deal may be dependent on whether the Spanish champions pursue a new centre-back.