Arsenal boss made contact with Barcelona star

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is understood to have made contact with Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic regarding a possible summer move.

The Gunners are expected to reinforce the midfield department this summer with Matteo Guendouzi set to leave the club while the futures of Lucas Torreira and Dani Ceballos remain uncertain.

Torreira has been fancied to return to the Serie A with long-term admirers AC Milan while Ceballos will report to Real Madrid with his loan spell having concluded.

According to Le 10 Sport, Arteta recently made contact with Rakitic to lure him to the north London side, but his effort went in vain.

Rakitic is currently assessing his options with his contract expiring in 11 months' time, but he is not keen on a move to the Premier League.

Instead, he would prefer to join another Spanish club or test himself out in the Italian Serie A during the final phase of his career.

Former club Sevilla are looking into the contract situation of Rakitic while Inter Milan are also keeping tabs on the proceedings.