Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly weighing up an audacious move for Real Madrid’s rising star Mateo Kovacic as Mauricio Pochettino seeks midfield reinforcements amidst growing reports of their star midfielder Eric Dier leaving the side. And the Croatian international has been identified as the perfect fit by the Argentine manager.
Though Real Madrid are unwilling to let go of one of their emerging talents, his irregular first team action could be seen as a window of opportunity by Spurs manager. Tottenham boasts of one of the best sides in the Premier League at the moment, with some of the world-class talents available. And their last season’s impressive displays have led to the league giants in raiding the side.
With names like Kyle Walker and Kevin Wimmer already on the selling list, Pochettino has a tough task on his hands retaining the rest of the lot as they head into a crucial season. Despite having a good domestic season, Spurs couldn’t land any silverware whatsoever; and they are yet to make any sort of mark on the European platform.
Dier played a significant role in Spurs’ home dominance last season as he was time and again thrown in to fill the void in the central midfield and centre-half positions. His defensive fluidity and superior technique have led to Manchester United pursuing him seriously. While Pochettino, under no condition, would want to part ways with the player, he seems to be preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Kovacic could be a like for like replacement for Dier, given his tremendous versatility in the midfield. Despite being a defensive minded midfielder, Zinedine Zidane has time and again used the Serbian in the attacking third alongside Luka Modric. At only 23, the player has found himself above the pecking order over the likes of James Rodriguez and sometimes Isco.
He moved to Santiago Bernabeu from Serie A side Inter Milan back in 2015 and although he hasn’t seen many starts, he has definitely impressed the boss who sees him as a long-term option at the club. Kovacic could manage only 23 starts last season in all competition but given the options, Real have available in that position, it could be considered a decent achievement.
An academy product of Austrian side ASKÖ Ebelsberg Linz, Kovacic made his way up through the ranks of Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb. He broke into their first team back in 2010 and three impressive seasons there caught Inter Milan’s attention. His consistency in the midfield has been hugely admired by everyone and he is already an established player for the Serbian national team with 34 caps to his name.
