Chelsea star’s representatives hold first round of negotiations with Manchester City

The representatives of Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic have reportedly travelled to London to hold talks with Manchester City, according to a new report.

The Premier League champions are stepping up their preparations for the forthcoming summer transfer window, with the recruitment of a brand new midfielder understood to be a key priority for those in transfer-focussed roles.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham remains the club’s number one target for the position, and there is a growing confidence within the Etihad Stadium that they will be able to get a deal over the line for the England international in the coming weeks.

However, there remains every possibility that City may have to recruit more than once for the central midfield roles, with continued uncertainty over the futures of Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Kalvin Phillips.

In a significant development on Friday afternoon, Balkan media are now reporting that Manchester City are sitting down for talks with long-term target Mateo Kovacic in London.

That is according to the information of journalist Esmir Kunićn for TV N1 Sarajevo, who reports that the representatives of the Chelsea star have now travelled to London to hold ‘the first round of negotiations’ with Manchester City officials.

It is explained that the 28 year-old is ‘a great desire’ of Pep Guardiola, and it is ‘assumed’ that he would replace Kalvin Phillips – who is labelled as being ‘close’ to signing for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Given the player’s contractual situation at Stamford Bridge – which his existing deal set to run out in the summer of 2024 – it is reported that a transfer would amount to around £30 million, with no agreement having been reached over an extension at Chelsea.

It was reported back in late February that Pep Guardiola had been a keen admirer of the Croatia international’s talents, and that City had previously held an interest in signing the player from Real Madrid prior to his Chelsea move.

City are often keen to take advantage of emerging market opportunities, and the potential for signing a top-level central midfielder with both Premier League and European experience may be an opening that Etihad bosses simply cannot turn down.

On the subject of one potential outgoing however, club captain Ilkay Gundogan spoke this week on his own future, as speculation concerning a free transfer to Barcelona at the end of the season continues to circle given his unresolved expiring contract.

Gundogan told Sky Germany, “My future is not yet decided. Sure, there are talks in the background. But I won’t go into details now. I’m happy to be here and to be the captain… But no signings have been made anywhere yet.”