Barcelona transfer news: PSG sweat on Ivan Rakitic approval with £81m bid prepared

Barcelona are supposedly aware of PSG’s interest in their Croatia international.

Ligue 1 club PSG emerged as suitors of Rakitic earlier this week, while Sergio Busquets is supposedly on their radar as well.

And while Busquets looks set to remain at the Nou Camp, Barcelona are steeling themselves for an approach for Rakitic.

According to Spanish newspaper SPORT, PSG are in a position to mad £81m for Rakitic before the French transfer deadline closes on September 31.

That is someway off the £107m release clause in the midfielder’s contract but nevertheless is a significant fee for Barca to consider.

SPORT claim PSG will make the offer once they have assurances from the player’s camp that he is open to a move to the Parc des Princes.

The Ligue 1 giants are said to have been working on the ‘operation’ for the past 10 days.

Rakitic, 30, could view PSG’s offer as one final big pay-day in his career.

He is said to be happy in Barcelona but the decision on his future supposedly rests in his hands.

PSG want an answer within the next few days so they can then go ahead with negotiations with the La Liga champions.

Barcelona would likely have to seek a replacement midfielder if Rakitic left, having already offloaded Paulinho and Andres Iniesta this summer.

Rakitic is under contract at Barcelona until 2021 but, while the club are keen to keep him, they have exceeded their policy of not spending over 70 per cent of revenues on player salaries.

A departure is therefore required and Rakitic may be the fall guy.

Last summer it was reported that the club spent 84 per cent of their income on wages.

The exit of Neymar and Javier Mascherano helped ease that burden, while Yerry Mina is currently on loan at Everton.

However, work still has to be done at the Nou Camp to keep the wage bill down.