Barcelona prioritise Ivan Rakitic's new deal amid Manchester United links

Barcelona have earmarked the renewal of Ivan Rakitic as the next priority in the club's agenda following a summer in which Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid all tempted the midfielder with a move away from the Nou Camp, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Neymar, Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano have all signed new deals in recent months while earlier this week Luis Suarez revealed that he is close to following, admitting that the negotiations between his agent and Barcelona with a new long-term deal are "on the right track".

Lionel Messi is also expected to be handed a new deal in the short term, but Mundo Deportivo is now claiming that, as soon as Suarez signs the new deal, the next priority for Barcelona officials will be to renew Rakitic.

The 28-year-old midfielder has become a crucial member of Luis Enrique's line-up since his arrival from Sevilla in the summer of 2014. Rakitic has managed to fill the huge gap left by Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez in the middle of the park, forming an impressive trident alongside captain Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

Barcelona are thus likely to commit his long-term future to the Nou Camp with a new deal despite he still has contract at the club until 2019.

Mundo Deportivo believes that his current salary has become obsolete after similar high-profile midfielders like Toni Kroos or Luka Modric recently signed big-money deal at Real Madrid.

Furthermore, Barcelona, as Mundo Deportivo had previously reported, are aware that during the summer transfer window European giants like Manchester United, Juventus and even Real Madrid approached Rakitic to tempt him with lucrative proposals to leave the Nou Camp.

The Spanish publication now suggests in its front cover that Jose Mourinho is still keen on luring him to Old Trafford after in the summer Manchester United already offered him a deal worth €10m-a season (£8.6m, $10.9m) to leave Barcelona – equivalent to €192,000-a-week.

Barcelona are thus ready to reward him with a substantial pay-rise to ward off those potential suitors ahead of the future.

Rakitic, meanwhile, is also reportedly keen on staying at the Nou Camp despite recently, in the preview of the Champions League clash with Manchester City, he revealed that he would love to work one day under Pep Guardiola.