Sevilla sports chief Monchi is seeking to re-sign Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

The Croatian was loved there and with his time up in the Catalan capital, a potential return to the south is taking shape.

At a sponsor's event this week, Monchi said that Rakitic "would be the perfect profile of a wizard" for Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla side.

Rakitic's contract at Barca runs until 2021 but the midfielder could leave this summer.

Monchi recognised that he has "started to contact some agents thinking about the summer transfer window. I have meetings and trips planned to start planning for next season".