Liverpool are interested in securing the services of Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The Reds have been linked with the highly rated footballer ever since his days at Inter Milan. Some reports are now claiming that Jurgen Klopp is now considering making a move for the 23-year-old midfielder. Kovacic is widely regarded as a very talented midfielder but has seen his appearances for Los Blancos cut short this season. He has just featured in 9 matches for Real Madrid in this campaign and is yet to make a start for the reigning European champions so far. The Croatian international has found himself down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with the world-class trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos being preferred to start for the first-team by Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane.
Another report has suggested that Kovacic has a €50m release clause in his contract, which is quite affordable in today’s market. Some sources are claiming that he would potentially be a replacement for what seems like a Barcelona-bound Philippe Coutinho while other reports are suggesting that he will be used to replace Emre Can, whose contract runs outs at the end of the season with Italian giants Juventus interested in his services.
Kovacic has a powerhouse physique like Can but also has a natural technical ability to dribble with the ball and find space for himself like Coutinho. He can be an ideal replacement for either player in the Reds’ midfield and with Naby Keita’s impending arrival at Merseyside in the summer, Liverpool fans might be in for a real treat with a possibility of witnessing Kovacic line up alongside Keita at the heart of the Reds’ midfield next season.
Liverpool are currently sitting pretty in 4th place in the Premier League standings, following their resounding 4-0 victory at Bournemouth on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp’s men are just a point above Arsenal who are hot on their heels in fifth place with the two sides facing off against each other on Friday night in the Premier League.
It is no secret that the Reds have struggled to cope defensively with the Merseysiders shipping in 20 goals in 18 league matches. So there’s an increasing need for some defensive midfield protection to sit just ahead of their back-line. Kovacic can be the ideal man to take up that role but only if the Reds manage to secure his services.
According to the Daily Star, the Reds have reportedly verbally agreed to terms with Real Madrid over their midfielder Kovacic. With the January transfer window looming on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether Jurgen Klopp is successful in his pursuit to secure the signature of a talented player who has a record of completing the second most dribbles in La Liga last season, just behind Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi.
