Exclusive: A summer move looks to be on the cards for a Manchester City midfielder | OneFootball

If Manchester City are to further strengthen their midfield in the summer, there are likely to be players who leave the club in the summer to cater for new arrivals. Bernardo Silva has revealed that he is hoping to remain at the club for next season. So that would leave Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and possibly Kevin De Bruyne as midfielders who could leave the club in the summer. There may be more players who depart, but in midfield, those are the three players who stand out as options to depart the world champions.

Esteemed Kompany has now learned that Mateo Kovacic is attracting interest from several clubs across Europe and the Saudi Pro League ahead of the summer transfer window. It has also been revealed by Esteemed Kompany sources that Atletico Madrid and Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr have shown concrete interest in signing the Croatian international. It has also been revealed that there is interest in Kovacic from three Premier League teams. At this stage, those three teams have not been revealed. It is understood that Manchester City would demand a transfer fee of between €30-40 million to sell Kovacic in the summer.

Mateo Kovacic has put in an admirable effort this season but you do sense that he could leave Manchester City this summer.

Across this season Mateo Kovacic has been forced to play out of position. Rodri’s season-ending knee injury forced the Croatian midfielder to play as a number six. That role is one that Kovacic isn’t suited to playing. Not in a Pep Guardiola system. Kovacic doesn’t have the tactical ability to fully grasp the role. We have seen that cost Manchester City on several occasions this season. The habit of Kovacic to drift out of position has harmed City’s play this season. But Kovacic does deserve credit for stepping into the role in City’s hour of need.

As per transfermarkt.com Kovacic has played as a holding midfielder in 23 out of the 33 appearances he has made this season. So, while he isn’t suited to the role, Pep Guardiola did need someone to step in Rodri’s role this season. Kovacic did that for his team. It didn’t go to plan but it could have been worse for Manchester City if he hadn’t done so.

But looking forward to the summer transfer window you do feel that Mateo Kovacic could be a prime candidate to leave Manchester City in the summer. The world champions do look to be keen on adding younger players to Pep Guardiola’s squad. They will need to sell players to balance the books and Pep Guardiola’s squad numbers. If they could land a €30-40 million transfer fee for Kovacic that would be good business for the club.

Summary.

It now seems that a race to sign Mateo Kovacic could eventuate in the summer. That would be to Manchester City’s benefit. The Croatian international does seem to be one player who will likely leave City this summer. What the future holds for Kovacic is a story to monitor as he could be one of a host of players who depart the club this summer.