As reported by Sam Lee of The Athletic, Manchester City have submitted an official £25m written bid to Chelsea for Mateo Kovačić.
The two sides are now working with one another to find a solution for the deal- with City already agreeing personal terms with the 29-year-old himself.
The midfielder is said to be keen on a move to Pep Guardiola’s side, who also wants to finalize a deal, having admired the player since at least 2018, when The Citizens were interested in signing him before he moved to Stamford Bridge.
Since signing for the The Blues on loan from Real Madrid in 2018, before joining permanently for €45m a year later, the Croatian international has made 221 appearances for the London side, winning a Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the process. Furthermore, with his contract expiring next year, the potential £25m move would see the Premier League champions pick up the player for just under his €40m market value, according to Transfermarkt.
Kovačić may not be the only Croat moving to Manchester this summer, with the treble winners also pushing to sign talented Rb Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, however the German side are expected to demand a huge fee to sell the 21-year-old.
Meanwhile, this potential move would be part of what is set to be a significant midfield rebuild for Mauricio Pochettino’s new club this summer, with Cobham academy graduate Mason Mount and the experienced N’Golo Kante both set to depart, whilst the signing of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is being explored as a potential midfield partner for club-record signing Enzo Fernández next season.
Travis Levison | Get Football
