PSG look to make Rakitic the 'new Neymar'

The French champions are keen on adding a midfielder to their squad in the next 10 days and have set their sights on one of Rakitic or Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets.

Whilst the Catalan side remain confident of keeping their academy product at the club, with there suggestions that he may be on the verge of signing a new contract with the club, there is less certainty as to Rakitic's future.

As things stand, Barca have no intention of selling their World Cup finalist, with manager Ernesto Valverde seeing him as a major part of his midfield engine room for the coming campaign.

However, having seen that a move for Busquets is extremely improbable, PSG are ready to concentrate their efforts on the Croatian.

Until now, Barca have maintained that Rakitic's €125m release clause would have to be paid in full in order for him to leave the club, but reports in Spain on Tuesday suggested that a deal for a lower figure could be struck.

Both 'Marca' and 'AS' hinted at the very serious nature of PSG's interest, with a fee of almost €100m being mooted.

Despite Barca's previous comments, that is certainly a figure that is likely to get a conversation started, particulalry with Rakitic set to turn 31 by the end of the season.

'Sport' also claimed that despire Barca's interest in the player, Adrien Rabiot would not be part of any move at this moment in time, with an all-cash deal much more likely to beat the deadline.

The circumstances of the deal have brought back unwanted memories among the Barca hierarchy of Neymar's €222m switch to the Parc des Princes last summer. That move significantly harmed the relations between the two clubs and a repeat of the 'Neymar affair' could leave thing in an irreparable state between the champions of France and Spain.