Manchester City are on the brink of signing Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic for a deal worth around €40 million. The Croatian international, who has been a key figure in Chelsea’s midfield, is set to make a move to the Etihad Stadium, leaving the Blues in search of a replacement.
According to ESPN, The 29-year-old midfielder has reportedly agreed on personal terms with City, and the transfer is expected to progress further after he finishes his international obligations with Croatia. The final match comes in Sunday’s Nations League Final against Spain.
The deal for Kovacic has progressed rapidly, with both clubs reaching a broad agreement on the fee. The only remaining issue is the structure of the payments, particularly how much City will pay Chelsea upfront. The West London club is under pressure to raise funds through player sales by the end of this month, following a spending spree of around £600m during the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership.
Kovacic, who initially joined Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid in 2018 before signing a permanent deal a year later, has made a total of 221 appearances for the Blues. He scored six goals and won the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup while at Stamford Bridge.
The signing of Kovacic will be a significant addition to Pep Guardiola’s squad, bolstering their midfield options for the upcoming season. However, the move will leave a void in Chelsea’s midfield, prompting the Blues to look for potential replacements in the transfer market.
