Why David James Believes Liverpool Should Have Signed Mateo Kovacic
The Premier League champions, Manchester City, have secured the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea in a deal worth £30 million. However, former England goalkeeper David James believes that Liverpool should have made a move for the Croatian midfielder instead.
Kovacic’s Success at Chelsea
Since joining Chelsea in 2018, Kovacic has made more than 200 appearances for the Blues and helped the club win the Champions League and Europa League. He has become an integral part of the team, with his ability to pick up the ball and go through lines with ease.
David James on Why Liverpool Should Have Signed Kovacic
James believes that Kovacic would be more suited to Liverpool than Manchester City. He said: “Someone who plays like Mateo Kovacic does, I would have thought would be more suited to Liverpool than Manchester City. I’ve been buzzing off this guy for a few years now; the way he picks the ball up and goes through lines with ease, it looks like he is always at 100mph. There is something magical about the way he plays. There is a lot of speed, energy and pace in the way Liverpool have played ever since Jurgen Klopp took over and someone like Kovacic would be ideal for that.”
Why Manchester City Signed Kovacic
Manchester City are known for their slower, more controlled style of play, which is why James believes that Kovacic is not the type of player they would usually go for. However, their signing of Erling Haaland has proved to be a success, so they may be looking to replicate this with Kovacic. The Croatian midfielder will cost Manchester City an initial fee of £25m, with £5m in potential add-ons.
Chelsea’s Summer Clearout
Chelsea are selling a number of players this summer to trim their bloated squad ahead of the arrival of new manager Mauricio Pochettino. This includes Kovacic, who will join Manchester City in a deal worth £30m.
Conclusion
David James believes that Liverpool should have signed Mateo Kovacic instead of Manchester City. He believes that the Croatian midfielder’s style of play is more suited to Liverpool’s fast-paced style of play than Manchester City’s slower, more controlled approach. However, Manchester City have signed Kovacic in a deal worth £30m as part of Chelsea’s summer clearout.