Man Utd could repeat Matic swoop as Red Devils eye Kovacic transfer

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic, with the midfielder heading into the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge this summer. The Red Devils are desperate to acquire at least one reinforcement in the position over the summer and are already preparing approaches for several targets.

Erik ten Hag is plotting a busy few months of transfer business once the season concludes, with the ex-Ajax boss hoping that his side’s progress indicates that he can bring more trophies to Old Trafford when financially backed. The 53-year-old brought in Casemiro and Christian Eriksen last summer, though his rebuild in the centre of the park is far from complete.

With Marcel Sabitzer’s loan expiring and Scott McTominay expected to be offloaded, a midfielder is top of the shopping list at the Theatre of Dreams. According to 90min, Chelsea star Kovacic is of ‘active interest’ to United and has been identified as an alternative to Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong, their No 1 target.

The Blues are desperate to retain the services of the Croatia international but will not make exceptions to their rule of not allowing players the chance to run their contracts down at the club, meaning a sale is very much an option. Extension talks have been opened with Kovacic, though it is reported that they have not progressed beyond ‘initial stages’.

Liverpool and Manchester City are also cited as being interested in the former Real Madrid star, with all interested clubs taking confidence that they could strike an agreement with their rivals for the playmaker considering Jorginho was sold to Arsenal in January. United can also look back at how they seamlessly negotiated a deal to sign Nemanja Matic from Chelsea in 2017 for £40million without any hiccups.

The trio of clubs who hold an interest in Kovacic are also in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund prospect Jude Bellingham and those who miss out on securing his signature may revert back to the 28-year-old.