Chelsea are preparing to sell Mateo Kovacic in the summer transfer window with Bayern Munich and Manchester City both interested in the midfielder, football.london understands.
The 29-year-old, who is valued at €30million (£26m) on CIES Football Observatory, has just over 12 months remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea are keen to cash in instead of risking losing him on a free transfer next summer. Talks over an extension on his deal have never taken place, meaning Kovacic's four-and-a-half-year stay in west London is expected to come to an end in the summer.
Former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel, who is now in charge at Bayern Munich, is interested in reuniting with Kovacic who thrived under the German during their time together at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Man City boss Pep Guardiola is also said to be a huge admirer of the former Real Madrid midfielder, with the English champions also vying for his signature.
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Kovacic has been a crucial part of the Chelsea first-team ever since he arrived on a permanent deal from Real Madrid in 2019. However, the Blues are now looking to massively reduce the size of their squad and are prepared to sell the Croatia international to help in that respect.
Kovacic, along with a host of other players, are expected to be sold this summer as Chelsea prepare for a different kind of transfer window to the previous two where nearly £600m was spent on a whole influx of incomings at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are prepared for offers for other midfielders such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek. AC Milan have recently rekindled their interest in the 27-year-old, football.london understands, with the current Champions League semi-finalists making contact with Chelsea over a possible move for Loftus-Cheek in recent weeks.
Conor Gallagher is the subject of interest from elsewhere as well. The England international is admired by Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, who are considering making a move for the midfielder once the summer transfer window opens in July.
It's a similar situation with Mason Mount, whose entourage have recently reopened talks with Chelsea over extending his deal, although at the time of writing nothing has changed on that front and the two parties remain some way off in reaching an agreement. However, that could all change with the expected appointment of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is said to be a huge fan of Mount.
There is still confidence that N'Golo Kante will extend his stay with the club beyond the end of the season – which is when his contract is due to reach its conclusion. Denis Zakaria, meanwhile, will return to Juventus in the summer after an unsuccessful loan spell in west London.
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