Man Utd Transfers: 10 World Cup Stars To Target This Summer
3. Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic has been linked with a host of European clubs since the turn of the New Year and his astonishing performance for Seville in last night's Europa League final will have taken him right to the top of many summer wishlists. Rakitic was one of the best players on the pitch as Seville saw off tournament favourites Benfica on penalties to win the trophy, and came up with probably one of the passes of the season - a pass which will have had Paul Scholes licking his lips. Wanted by Liverpool, Atletico and Real Madrid, the 26-year-old, set to star for Croatia at this summer's World Cup, is valued at £33 million, with that being the release clause at his current club. Little wonder, considering he netted 12 La Liga goals from midfield this season, and is rapidly becoming the new darling of Spanish football. Rakitic is arguably the ideal replacement for Scholes at Old Trafford given his supreme passing range, though we'd undoubtedly have to enter a fierce bidding war for his services with a successful World Cup set to drive his market value through the roof.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.