During the January transfer window, La Liga expert Gulliem Balague wrote that Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool’s target Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic is almost certain to leave in the summer.

The 25-year-old has been in stunning form this season, scoring 10 goals and further bagging seven assists to his name.

The Andalusian club were not against of selling him but the  president of Sevilla insisted earlier that any potential buyer will have to trigger the player’s €40m release clause.

In December, Liverpool Echo reported that Liverpool are showing keen interest in the midfielder and Rodgers has sent scouts to keep an eye on him.

Now, Sevilla president Jose Castro, revealed that the club has reached a principal agreement with the player over a contract extension, though he refused to give details of the details of the contract.

In a recent interview with El Desmarque, Castro said:

“Yes, we’re in advanced talks with Rakitic.  We’ve had two meetings and I believe that we’ve reached a cordial agreement.  I don’t believe there will be any problems in signing a new contract in the next several days.

“It’s an important operations, perhaps the most important the club can aspire to at this time.

“The principal agreement is clear and there shouldn’t be any problem announcing the renewal in the next several days.  I cannot reveal the details as we’re still in negotiations.”

Well, we all know that these contract extensions are nothing but a tool to get a hefty transfer fee for any player. Ask Gareth Bale for that matter. So, this could well be a ploy to get an upper hand in the bargaining table for the Croatian, who has no shortage of admirers in Europe.