Mateo Kovacic joined Real Madrid from Inter Milan in 2015 for £25m. Since then, he has made a total of 73 appearances for the club, scoring just one goal.
The 24-year-old generally operates as a central midfielder but is capable of playing in an attacking role as well. The Croatian is currently in Russia for the FIFA World Cup.
The midfielder has found regular game time hard to come by with the likes of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the Madrid squad. The aforementioned players are one of the best in their position and there’s no chance for Kovacic to secure a spot for himself.
Hence, a move away from the club would provide him with a chance to restart his career. Here, we take a look at three Premier League clubs that Kovacic could join.
Manchester United
The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the wantaway Croatian, who has a £264m release clause. Manchester United must pursue Kovacic this summer, given that the future of Ander Herrera is in doubt.
Herrera has been reportedly attracting interest from Barcelona, meaning an exit could be on the horizon. To that end, signing Kovacic would be a shrewd move by Jose Mourinho.
Kovacic would provide healthy competition for Nemanja Matic, on whom United relied last season. The Real Madrid star boasts of great passing ability and is excellent at releasing attacking players. His versatility will be crucial for Mourinho since he can deploy him in a number of roles if required. That said, Kovacic’s time on the field might be slightly restricted.
West Ham United
West Ham are in dire need of a new midfielder after talisman Manuel Lanzini suffered an anterior cruciate ligament damage. The injury will ensure that Lanzini misses a minor portion of next season, meaning West Ham need a new man to take up the Argentinian’s role.
Kovacic would be the perfect player for the Hammers, acting as a solid deputy in Lanzini’s absence. New manager Manuel Pellegrini has the ability and experience to turn Kovacic into one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the league. With West Ham aiming to make a strong impact in the Premier League, Kovacic could be a quality addition to their side.
He would provide excellent support to Marko Arnautovic, who was the Hammers’ main man last season. In fact, the Austrian should thrive off Kovacic’s slick short passes in the final third. Pellegrini will probably have to wait until Croatia are done with the World Cup to begin negotiations, but it is a deal he should prioritize over the others.
Crystal Palace
Palace finished 11th in the Premier League last season after a horrendous start under Frank De Boer. Thanks to Roy Hodgson’s experience in the English top-flight, the club were able to secure a mid-table finish.
With the transfer window up and running, Hodgson must consider a move for Kovacic since Ruben Loftus-Cheek has returned to Chelsea after his loan spell. Yohan Cabaye is on the wrong side of 30 as well, meaning Kovacic would be a great addition for Palace.
The Croatian’s experience should boost the Eagles’ midfield in the upcoming campaign. Hence, Hodgson must make an early move for the player before other clubs jump in. The prospect of playing regular football will certainly be tempting for Kovacic.
