Latest transfer rumors are out that English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City is targeting Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic for $51 million in the ongoing winter transfer window.

ESPN reported that City manager Pep Guardiola is looking to raid his former club Barcelona with the three-time La Liga champion coach particularly interested in signing Croatian midfielder Rakitic.

Like Us on Facebook

The report noted that Guardiola is preparing a £42 million ($51 million) bid for Rakitic as the 28-year-old Croatia international is his "preferred choice" to replace Ilkay Gundogan, who was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a torn right ACL last month. Gundogan's injury would require surgery to repair.

Speculations about Rakitic's future at the Camp Nou began to intensify when he was left at home during the Blaugrana's 1-1 road draw with Villarreal at the El Madrigal Stadium on Sunday.

Barça head coach Luis Enrique was quick to refute the rumors, though, saying that Rakitic being left behind does not mean anything and it is simply his decision who gets to play or not.

"It's up to me to decide the squads and the teams. That's my job," Enrique said when asked about Rakitic's benching and the rumors linking the midfielder to City, as per SkySports. "What's been published has nothing to do with that. Only 25 percent of things are true, be it in the Croatian, Spanish, England, Italian media."

Rakitic has been with the club since the summer of 2014 when Barça bought him from La Liga rivals Sevilla for an undisclosed fee. The Croatian had scored 20 times in a total of 129 games in all competitions for Barça, most of the time playing behind the triple-threat attack of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar. His contract at Barcelona is due to expire in 2019.

Meanwhile, Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre recently confirmed that the club is currently negotiating a contract extension with Rakitic.

"We are negotiating Rakitic's renewal. We love him not only as a player but also as a person. He has a contract and we want him to stay," said Mestre.

Tags Football Transfer Rumors, Football Transfer Rumors 2017, Ivan Rakitic, FC Barcelona, Manchester City