Rakitic spends transfer deadline day with wife as he waits for new Barca deal

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic spent transfer deadline day enjoying a night out with his wife Raquel Mauri.

The Croatia international has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Chelsea reportedly the frontrunners to sign him this summer.

The former Sevilla playmaker posted a photo on Instagram with the caption 'beautiful night'.

Rakitic's future at the Catalan giants has been thrown into doubt since Ernersto Valverde's side signed Frenkie de Jong for £65 million from Ajax.

De Jong will join Barcelona in the summer and with the Blues letting go of Cesc Fabregas in the winter window, Maurizio Sarri is believed to be after another midfielder.

But Rakitic insists he can still stake a claim in the Barcelona side when De Jong signs and is looking for a new deal.

'Since I've been here I do not know how many times I've left and I'm back,' he said after Wednesday evening's Copa del Rey victory over Sevilla.

'I'm more than happy here and my intention is to be here longer. The other day I gave the president a little nudge to see if he would start my renewal.'

Barcelona are five points clear at the top of the La Liga table and face Valencia on Saturday.