WC finalist Mateo Kovacic is clearly in the picture to become Manchester City’s new midfielder. This is reported by The Telegraph. The 28-year-old Croatian will probably leave Stamford Bridge next summer.
According to various sources, Guardiola is an admirer of the qualities of the versatile playmaker, who was already linked to City when he left Real Madrid for Chelsea in 2018. Kovacic has now played 207 games for The Blues and was also an important link. At the top club from London in large phases of this season. However, his future at Chelsea is uncertain due to the length of his contract.
Kovacic’s contract runs until mid-2024, meaning that Chelsea will have to sell him next summer in the current situation to get another serious transfer fee. New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly wants to go to great lengths to prevent players from leaving Chelsea on a free transfer. To his chagrin, he saw Antonio Rüdiger, Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso leave on a free transfer last summer.
City would like to take advantage of the situation. Guardiola sees Kovacic as a welcome reinforcement for his midfield. Partly because the Croat can handle both as a controller and in a role as a liaison player. According to the English media, there is a good chance that the selection of The Citizens will be refreshed considerably after this season. Bernardo Silva has previously made no secret of being open to a new challenge and Ilkay Gündogan has an expiring contract. Kalvin Phillips, who came over from Leeds United, has not yet lived up to expectations in his debut season in Manchester.
Pep Guardiola takes a dig at Manchester United and Erik ten Hag
Manchester United are currently third in the Premier League, three points behind City and eight behind leaders Arsenal. With that, United is indeed part of the title fight again. Guardiola, however, said, “They are in the position that that should be normal. When I came here I thought Manchester United would always be in this position.”
Also winning the first prize since 2017 for United could not count on much enthusiasm from Guardiola. “I remember the first time we were able to win the League Cup. Everyone was so excited. It was new for the staff and for the players. The fourth time we were able to win it, it was like: okay, one more> Just another day at the office,” the manger adds.
Incidentally, he does not want to detract from the performance of Erik ten Hag. Who puts the club back on the right track. He commented, “Eric is doing a fantastic job. You see how committed the players are and how they all try to do it together.”
