As per a report by the Telegraph, Manchester City are enticed by the prospect of signing Mateo Kovacic in the summer.
It seems likely that Bernardo Silva will be departing City next season, after years of speculation regarding an exit, with the player himself admitting that he would open to a return to Benfica. Furthermore, Ilkay Gundogan’s contract at the Etihad Stadium will expire in the summer.
Keeping these factors in mind, Manchester City may need a new midfielder ahead of the 2023/2024 campaign and it seems as if Mateo Kovacic is one of their transfer targets.
Manchester City intrigued by Mateo Kovacic deal
The £40 million (Sky Sports) man could be a part of a fire sale at Chelsea, with plenty of players such as N’Golo Kane, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Cesar Azpilicueta in the final year of their contracts currently.
The Telegraph have reported that Graham Potter’s side do not want to be in a situation where the futures of the aforementioned players are not decided and it seems Manchester City want to take a stab at potentially bringing in Mateo Kovacic.
Interestingly, Pep Guardiola is believed to be a ‘big admirer’ of the Croatian international as well.
In addition, it has been claimed that the Sky Blues could plan to sign 2 new midfielders, and the 28-year-old could prove to be a world-class, yet cheap addition, who the club wanted to sign from Real Madrid in 2018.
Perfect Bernardo Silva replacement but there’s one question mark
Mateo Kovacic, who Frank Lampard once called ‘outstanding’ via One Football has everything in his game to be the ideal successor to Bernardo Silva at Manchester City, being a sumptuous ball-carrier, huge defensive presence, adept controller from deep areas and also being a superb passer.
The problem is the Champions League winner’s fitness record, as injuries have meant he has started a mere 8 Premier League games so far this season, 16 in the previous campaign and just 21 in the one before.
With the elegant midfielder’s injury woes only getting worse, this could be an understandable hang-up in City’s minds as they consider his arrival.
