Manchester City have reportedly agreed a £30m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic as the clear-out at Stamford Bridge continues.
The Premier League winners have been linked to Kovacic for several weeks and have now made a breakthrough in negotiations with Chelsea.
Kovacic has made more than 200 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Real Madrid in 2019, aiding the Blues win the Champions League and Europa League.
Some may be surprised by his exit from Stamford Bridge, given that the 29-year-old was a key member of the squad last season, appearing in 37 games across all competitions.
However, Chelsea are cutting a number of players in an attempt to downsize a bloated roster that finished 12th in the Premier League last season.
Kovacic may have also pushed Chelsea’s hand because he was reported to be eager to work with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
As a result, he negotiated personal terms with the Champions League holders earlier this month and will now undergo a medical at City.
Fabrizio Romano reports that City has agreed to pay Chelsea £25m ($32m) up front for Kovacic and an additional £5m in add-ons.
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The final £5m payment will be activated only if City reach their trophy goals and will not be based on Kovacic’s achievements for the club.
Guardiola is said to have identified Kovacic as his key summer target in order to provide depth to his midfield, having long admired the former Real Madrid star.
Kovacic will be one of several Chelsea players to leave the club this summer, with N’Golo Kante joining Saudi Arabia champions Al Ittihad earlier this week and Hakim Ziyech is also on the verge of joining Saudi club Al Nassr.
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