MX23RW : Friday, November 8 01:48:37| >> :120:10835:10835:

Manchester City identify Mateo Kovacic as Jude Bellingham alternative?

Man City identify Kovacic as Bellingham alternative?
© Reuters
Manchester City will reportedly target Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic to bolster their options in the summer, should they fail in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham.

Manchester City have reportedly shown interest in Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, with a view to sign him in the summer.

Kovacic will have just 12 months left on his contract come the summer, and the best outcome for all parties may result in the Croatian leaving the club, given the amount of new talent signed at Stamford Bridge.

Having made over 200 appearances for the club, winning the Champions League, as well as claiming silver and bronze medals at the previous two World Cups for Croatia, Kovacic's performances in recent years are understood to have impressed Pep Guardiola.

The Daily Mail claim that under Todd Boehly's ownership, Chelsea are looking to avoid scenarios where players leave the club on free transfers, following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen last summer.

Jorginho has already been sold as his contract was running down, but they were able to tie Thiago Silva down to another short contract extension recently.

However, with nothing agreed in terms of an extension for Kovacic, Man City have been alerted and may be able to acquire the midfielder at a cut price.

Jude Bellingham is the name on everybody's lips right now, but City are not thought to be one of the favourites to land the England international this summer.

Guardiola is expected to be in the market for midfield reinforcements due to uncertainty over the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.

ID:507803:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3432:

Click here for more stories about Mateo Kovacic

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Nathan Ake celebrates scoring for Manchester City on January 27, 2023
Read Next:
Nathan Ake 'in talks over new Manchester City deal'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!