Manchester United have opened talks with Barcelona for midfield outcast Ivan Rakitic.

Sport says United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is interested in luring him to Old Trafford with Barcelona set to demand €30million in order to part ways.

The Croatian has slipped down the pecking order under Ernesto Valverde, starting just one game in the league, leading to suggestions he could opt for an exit in January.

Frenkie De Jong's arrival and the form of Brazilian midfielder Arthur has left Rakitic out in the cold and a move to the Premier League has been mooted.

United have long been linked with the 31-year-old and now he has popped up on their radar again as they search for a midfielder to bolster their ranks in January.