Manchester City are monitoring Mateo Kovacic’s contract situation at Chelsea with the club yet to open talks with the midfielder over a new deal.
Kovacic will enter the final season of his contract at Chelsea this summer but there have been no discussions to date on an extension for the Croatia international.
His situation has alerted several clubs with Manchester City and Bayern Munich – who appointed ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel last week – keeping an eye on developments at Stamford Bridge.
The Evening Standard are reporting that there is ‘a growing feeling’ that Kovacic could form part of a clear-out at Chelsea this summer as the west Londoners look to reduce a bloated squad and meet the Premier League’s financial rules.
Chelsea posted losses of £121million for last season and are understood to require substantial sales this summer to avoid a breach of rules. Those losses followed a £153m loss in 2020/21, though Chelsea have attributed the figures in part to the government sanctions placed on former owner Roman Abramovich.
The Blues have since spent more than £500m on new additions since last summer and an absence of Champions League football will further damage the club’s revenue figures. Clubs are required to make a loss of no more than £105m across a rolling three-year period.
Kovacic could be allowed to leave to raise funds, despite being handed the captain’s armband in recent fixtures in the absence of Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva.
