Manchester City are maintaining a watching brief on Mateo Kovacic, who is ready to leave Chelsea this summer.
The 29-year-old is admired by Pep Guardiola and would be keen to join the Premier League champions elect. City will take stock of their squad at the end of the campaign as Guardiola awaits a decision from Barcelona target Ilkay Gundogan over his contract offer, while Kalvin Phillips also wants to stay.
City have also discussed the merits of West Ham’s Declan Rice, but his style could cut across that of Rodri who is hugely instrumental to Guardiola’s side. Arsenal are considered favourites but their concern over Rice is the price.
Manchester United are firm admirers too and have players such as Scott McTominay who West Ham would consider as part of a £120m package.
Chelsea’s new boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to fly into London from Barcelona on Tuesday before signing his three-year contract but expects departures with Kovacic, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Edouard Mendy among the prime candidates to go.
Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is a summer transfer target for Manchester City
Kovacic (blue top) is tipped to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and wants to move elsewhere
Chelsea scouts watched Napoli’s £130m-rated striker Victor Osimhen on Sunday during Monza’s surprise 2-0 win over the Italian champions. Pochettino also expects talks over Romelu Lukaku’s situation at the end of the month.
Passing king Parejo sounds out Villa
Villarreal pass master Dani Parejo is eyeing a return to England at the age of 34. Having played 41 consecutive matches for Villarreal this season, Parejo will miss the forthcoming fixture against Girona as he’s suspended for accumulation of yellow cards.
Parejo regularly tops the passing statistics charts and has amassed almost 2,000 completed passes. He had a brief spell with QPR in 2008 while on loan from Real Madrid and is considering another attempt in England now.
Aston Villa are among those to have been sounded out because of Parejo’s relationship with Unai Emery but others are weighing up an offer.
Villa are keen on Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso for their midfield, as previously reported in Confidential, and want a more technical presence on the flanks hence their interest in Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.
The likes of Leon Bailey, Bertrand Traore and Philippe Coutinho could all depart if they can find the right offers.
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