Bayern Munich will not be pursuing a move for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic this summer, despite recent reports linking the Croatia international with a move. The 28-year-old was briefly linked with the German giants following the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, however they appear to have their sights set elsewhere.
According to Sky Sports Germany, Bayern believe that a deal which brings Kovacic to the Allianz Arena is not within their budget. The midfielder, who sees his contract with the Blues expire at the end of next season, is currently valued at £22million by the CIES Football Observatory.
However, Kovacic has recently grown into a leadership role at Chelsea so it could well cost any potential suitor far more. The report states that the German outfit believe they already have 'too many players' in the Croatia international's position.
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Kovacic has enjoyed various roles in midfield since joining the Blues, whether it be further forward, box-to-box or even a holding responsibility. As it stands, Bayern have just one defence-minded option in Joshua Kimmich, with Leon Goretzka and Ryan Gravenberch usually enjoying the responsibility of venturing into the final-third.
While Jamal Musiala is very versatile, he's a No.10 by trade. Sky Sports Germany state that Konrad Laimer is set to join the Bundesliga champions in the summer once his contract at RB Leipzig comes to an end — he also happens to be a defensive midfielder.
So, with Bayern reportedly out of the race to sign Kovacic, Todd Boehly has been gifted a free-run at ensuring that the Croatian signs a new long-term deal. Kovacic has just 16 months remaining on his contract with Chelsea and, therefore, he naturally faces a somewhat uncertain future.
Despite a possible exit on the cards, Graham Potter has heaped great praise on the midfielder for his impressive performances this term. After the win over Leicester, the Blues boss said: "He’s been the captain in the last two games, which tells you how influential he is.
"He’s a fantastic guy, I really like him. He is determined, has character, courage, and is prepared to take the ball in tight situations. What he’s achieved in his career with his national team and here at Chelsea, he is an important player for us."
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