Chelsea have granted Manchester City permission to talk to Mateo Kovacic for a transfer this summer. As per the latest update, Kovacic has agreed personal terms with Manchester City and the two clubs now need to find an agreement over the transfer fee in order for the transfer to go through.
The Premier League champions are interested in signing a new midfielder, and have identified the Croatian as a suitable addition to their squad. The future of Ilkay Gundogan remains uncertain, and a move to Barcelona seems likely for the club captain. In that case, Kovacic could prove to be a great replacement for the German.
Mateo Kovacic transfer news: Manchester City move likely this summer
The 29-year-old has only one year left on his current deal with Chelsea, and it seems unlikely that a renewal will be agreed. As a result, the London club will be looking to offload him for a fee worth £35 million.
Although Mateo Kovacic has shown remarkable ball retention capabilities in midfield over the years, he hasn’t been chipping in with goal contributions. And that has been something that the Blues have lacked, save for the odd goal scored by the Croatian.
In this aspect, he could have a hard time replacing Gundogan, who is known for also being a good finisher. As a result, Guardiola will have to tweak his formation and tactics to accommodate the Chelsea player in his line-up.
The move is still in the initial stages, and Bayern Munich are also in contention to sign the player. AC Milan have also been linked with his signature, but few can compare to the prospect that Manchester City present right now.
The negotiations will take place with greater speed once Manchester City’s season is over with the Champions League 2022/23 final against Inter Milan. But it seems almost confirmed that the Croatian will be moving on from Chelsea this summer.
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