Mateo Kovacic is expected to leave Chelsea this summer, and there are plenty of clubs trying to secure his signature. The 29-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge lately, with his contract set to expire in 12-months.
football.london understands that the Blues are preparing for his departure, with Bayern Munich and Manchester City said to be interested. It's believed that there's not yet been talks of an extension on his current deal in west London, meaning the Croatia international will become a free agent at the end of next season.
Thomas Tuchel is said to be eager to reunite with Kovacic, who performed excellently alongside the German during their time together at Chelsea. Pep Guardiola is also understood to be a big admirer, with the Premier League champions plotting a swoop.
Agreement close
Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic this summer in a move worth £34.2million, according to ESPN. The Croatian international is said to have agreed personal terms already, with the agreement between the two clubs all that remains.
Price tag revealed
With a move seriously on the cards, The Times have claimed that Chelsea will likely demand between £30million and £40million for Kovacic. The report adds that he would prefer a move to the Etihad Stadium.
United hijacking
Despite his unimpressive form this season, Rio Ferdinand has urged his former side to ditch their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong and signed Kovacic instead. Speaking on his YouTube channel, FIVE, the 44-year-old said: "It sounds too difficult and too complicated [to sign De Jong] – move on. I think Kovacic has got a year left. I like him… He's different to what we've got."
Player preference
According to The Athletic, Kovacic prefers a move to City over a switch to Bayern Munich where he could reunite with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. The Blues have granted the Premier League champions permission to speak to the Croatian.
City open 'concrete' talks
According to Fabrizio Romano, positive discussions have taken place with player’s camp in the last few days over personal terms. The transfer guru added that Chelsea are open to selling Kovacic as part of their midfield revolution with talks set to continue soon.
The news comes after incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino had identified Sporting CP star Manuel Ugarte as a key target this summer. The Blues are currently pursuing a £52million deal to sign the 22-year-old but have hit a stumbling block over wages - with Paris Saint-Germain rivalling the west London outfit for his signing and offering significantly higher wages.
Guardiola chat
In January, when Chelsea welcomed the Premier League champions to Stamford Bridge, Guardiola was spotted making a beeline for Kovacic upon the final whistle. The 52-year-old was said to have made a special effort to talk to the Croatia international, with City having now reportedly launched a bid to sign him.
Guardiola has a history of speaking to opposition players, whether it be his fiery words of wisdom for Nathan Redmond or comfy chat with James Maddison. It appears Guardiola is a fan of the Blues midfielder.
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