Man City agree Mateo Kovacic transfer fee as midfielder's future addressed

Here are your Manchester City evening headlines for Wednesday, June 21.

City have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic. It is understood that the reigning Premier League champions will pay an initial fee of £25million, with another £5m to be paid in potential add-ons.

The 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Real Madrid back in 2019, is poised to become the club's first signing of the summer transfer window. He is expected to undergo a medical in the next few days ahead of finalising his switch to the Etihad Stadium.

City manager Pep Guardiola has been keen to strengthen his midfield options this summer and has been a long-term admirer of Kovacic, who has four Champions League winners' medals to his name. He won the competition three times with Madrid and once with Chelsea.

The Croatian made a total of 37 appearances for the Londoners during the 2022/23 campaign, chipping in with two goals and two assists. He has made 221 appearances for the Stamford Bridge outfit in total.

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Despite the impending arrival of Kovacic risking pushing him further down the pecking order, Kalvin Phillips wants to stay at the Etihad Stadium this summer and fight for his place. He joined the Blues from Leeds United last summer and has so far made just 21 appearances for the club.

The midfield enforcer, who scored his first goal for England in their 7-0 win over North Macedonia at Old Trafford on Monday night, experienced an injury-ravaged maiden campaign at City, meaning he failed to make the progress he would have liked. He played just 12 times in the Premier League, starting only twice.

Rodri has established himself as Guardiola's first choice midfield anchor, meaning Phillips