Croatian star Mateo Kovačić reportedly set to leave Manchester City

Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovačić is reportedly on the verge of leaving Manchester City, with English media suggesting the club is willing to listen to offers. Kovačić has one year remaining on his contract and the club does not appear to be planning a renewal. Manchester City is reportedly looking to replace the experienced player with a younger talent in the same position.

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If there is an offer that meets their conditions, they will probably accept it.

AC Milan and Aston Villa are among the clubs showing interest in the 32-year-old. A return to Italy could be appealing for Kovačić, who previously played for Inter Milan from 2013 to 2015. Aston Villa might be a more immediate option, having recently sold several key midfielders.

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He is no longer considered untouchable at the club and they are ready to replace him with a younger player in the same position.

West Ham is considered a less likely destination for Kovačić in the short term, as they are currently in the second tier of English football. However, they could pursue him next summer if they secure promotion back to the Premier League. Transfermarkt values the Croatian midfielder at 10 million euros, though Manchester City might not secure a significantly higher fee.

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A return to Italy could represent an interesting challenge for him since he wore the jersey of another Milan giant, Inter, from 2013 to 2015.

Despite reports, Kovačić himself has stated that the club still counts on him, suggesting that this information should be approached with some caution.

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Kovačić himself said that the club told him they are still counting on him, so this information should be taken with a dose of reserve.