Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Ivan Rakitic and Anthony Martial Rumours

Manchester United want to use Anthony Martial as part of a deal to entice Barcelona into selling Ivan Rakitic, according to reports.

Diario Gol reported Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho is the architect of the deal and a "huge admirer" of Rakitic's ability (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star). Barcelona are considering making changes to their squad after Neymar's departure to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, and new boss Ernesto Valverde could be prepared to take the starting XI in a new direction. The report said Mourinho is happy to let Martial go in order to claim his main target.

Rakitic is hugely admired throughout Europe, and his technical prowess would benefit Paul Pogba at United. However, Nemanja Matic's signing has solved Mourinho's defensive-midfield conundrum, and it would be difficult to accommodate the Barca midfielder.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Martial's sale would also be hugely unpopular among United fans, with the France international a favourite of the Stretford End. The player has flattered to deceive at times, but he is young (he turns 22 in December) and his best years are ahead of him.

Martial has been alternating starts with Marcus Rashford this season, and both allow the Red Devils to play with pace and endeavour.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News said the Frenchman is "happy" to remain at United after a recent report of an approach from Arsenal.

Martial's form recently saw him awarded the club's player of the month for September, per Full Time Devils:

Rakitic made 32 appearances in La Liga for Barca last season, scoring eight goals. The Croatian achieved an 86 per cent pass-completion rate, according to Squawka, and his technical ability would be appreciated at the Theatre of Dreams.

Michael Carrick, at 36, is close to retirement, and if the longtime servant departs at the end of the season, Rakitic would be an ample replacement.

Mourinho has rebuilt United's midfield during his short period at the club, but swapping Martial for Rakitic makes little sense.

Martial was a costly purchase from AS Monaco when he was bought in 2015 with a view to developing him into a world-class attacker, and a swap for a player on the brink of his 30s appears bad business. 

United need to recruit an additional wing-back to provide width and service, and purchasing a central midfielder would be nonessential.

Ander Herrera has spent the opening part of the season on the bench, and his approach provides United with a similar midfielder to Rakitic.