Rakitic could leave Barcelona this summer and he would be ideal for Arsenal’s midfield

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Champions League winner and World Cup finalist Ivan Rakitic could be set to leave Barcelona this summer, according to Spanish outlet AS.

They report that the Spanish giants were planning a major summer overhaul even before their cataclysmic 4-0 Champions League aberration against Liverpool on Tuesday, but that result has only exacerbated the need.

The report says that Rakitic is likely to leave the club if Ernesto Valverde pays for a second straight European humiliation with his job.

It also states that Barca wanted 30 million euros (£25.8m) last summer for the Croatian – after he had just reached the World Cup final – and could lower that asking price this time around.

Rakitic should have many admirers across Europe if he does move – despite his advancing years – and Arsenal are one club in need of an elite midfielder after the impending departure of Aaron Ramsey to Juventus.

The Gunners don’t have a player on that top level in the heart of their engine room any more, nor someone to knit defence and attack together expertly.

Getting in a player of Rakitic’s class would be a major coup – and probably only likely if the Gunners overcome Chelsea in the Europa League final later this month.

Unai Emery won the same competition with Rakitic in the team at Sevilla back in 2014 and a reunion would take Arsenal’s midfield to the next level.