Chelsea midfielder keen to join Manchester City amid continued Ilkay Gundogan uncertainty

Mateo Kovacic is keen to join Manchester City this summer, should the opportunity to swap West London for East Manchester arise.

The 29 year-old, who has spent five seasons at Chelsea, looks set to be one of several first-team players to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, as Todd Bohely prepares to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as manager.

Kovacic has emerged as a midfield target for Manchester City, with the Sky Blues still waiting to discover Ilkay Gundogan’s plans. The German is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and subject to growing interest from Barcelona.

The future’s of Bernardo Silva and Kalvin Phillips are also uncertain, with the latter drawing interest from a host of Premier League clubs, namely Aston Villa and West Ham.

Furthermore, Jude Bellingham is widely claimed to be favouring a summer move to Real Madrid, as City risk missing out on the signature of the England teenager.

As a result, the Chelsea midfielder has become a potential alternative option for Manchester City, with the Croatian midfielder “admired” by manager Pep Guardiola and the Blues “maintaining a watching brief.”

Kovacic has made 36 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions so far this season and could feature against City this weekend, when Frank Lampard’s side visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

City will have the chance to win a third successive Premier League title with a victory over Chelsea, with Guardiola’s side having already beaten the struggling West London club on three occasions this season.

Kovacic would be “keen” to join the Sky Blues this summer, with the Premier League champions already “plotting” a move for the Croatian, according to Simon Jones.

The 29 year-old is amongst a list of four Chelsea players who are reportedly “primed” for summer departures from Stamford Bridge, while City will asses their squad following the conclusion of the campaign.

City’s campaign is currently scheduled to end on Saturday 3rd June following the Emirates FA Cup Final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

However, the Blues’ season could be extended for a further week, if Guardiola’s side beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second-leg on Wednesday night and reach the 2023 Champions League Final.