Reports from Mirror indicate that Mateo Kovacic has reached an agreement to join Manchester City. The Croatian midfielder has agreed to personal terms with the Etihad Club and is eager to complete the transfer in due course. It is understood that Chelsea, his current club, are open to the prospect of selling him.
Kovacic’s Struggling Campaign At Chelsea
Kovacic has faced challenges during his time at Stamford Bridge this season, struggling to perform in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield consistently. The 29-year-old Croatian midfielder has scored two goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances for the club across various competitions.
Kovacic’s overall performance has been underwhelming, evident from his average of 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 0.9 shots, 0.9 key passes, and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. However, he has shown an accuracy in his passing game, completing 86% of his attempted passes in the top-flight competition, according to statistics from Whoscored.
With his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2024, Chelsea may face challenges in retaining Kovacic beyond the upcoming transfer window.
What Will He Bring To Manchester City?
Kovacic’s arrival at Man City would bring several key qualities to the team’s midfield. Firstly, his solid tackling skills and ability to time his challenges effectively would enhance City’s defensive solidity and provide them with an additional option to regain possession in the centre of the park.
Furthermore, Kovacic’s energy and work rate in midfield would contribute to the Sky Blues’ high-intensity playing style. His willingness to cover ground and make dynamic runs would add an extra dimension to City’s attacking play, providing support to the forwards and creating scoring opportunities.
The Croatian’s versatility is another valuable asset he would bring to the Etihad Stadium. His proficiency in various midfield positions, including as a box-to-box midfielder, attacking midfielder, or defensive midfielder, would offer tactical flexibility to Pep Guardiola, allowing him to adapt his team’s approach based on the opposition and match circumstances.
Kovacic’s arrival at Man City would bolster the team’s midfield options, providing defensive solidity, energy, versatility, and technical quality. His skill set would align well with City’s playing style and contribute to their pursuit of success in domestic and European competitions.
