Reports suggest that Mateo Kovacic is likely to leave Chelsea at the end of the season. The Croatian midfielder is set to enter the final year of his contract this summer, and there is no indication that an agreement will be reached to extend his deal beyond 2024. New Blues owner Todd Boehly is keen to avoid players entering the final 12 months of their contracts for fear of them departing on free transfers. Chelsea, who will not be in the Champions League next season, are also looking to decrease the size of their squad following a £600million spending spree over the past two windows. With a host of midfield options available, including N’Golo Kante, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, and Carney Chukwuemeka, Chelsea can afford to offload Kovacic.
According to The Guardian, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Manchester United are all interested in signing the former Real Madrid man. A move to Bayern would be the most logical destination for Kovacic as he would reunite with Thomas Tuchel, who he won the Champions League under at Chelsea in 2021. However, Man Utd will also be fighting for his signature as they seek world-class midfielders to go alongside Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. Man City could also pursue the Croat if they lose Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
Kovacic signed a deal to permanently join the Blues in 2019 after a one-year loan spell at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea paid around £40m for him, and he has gone on to make more than 200 appearances, scoring six goals and providing 15 assists. Along with his Champions League winner’s medal, Kovacic has also won the Europa League and Club World Cup during his time in West London.
It is also possible that Kovacic could be heading out of Chelsea’s exit door with England international Mount. The Blues academy prospect has failed to agree on a new deal with his boyhood club and is set to become a free agent next summer. Boehly and Co could opt to cash in on him in the coming months, with Liverpool keeping a keen eye on the Three Lions star.