Man City 'tracking Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic' and more transfer rumours

Manchester City are reportedly tracking Mateo Kovacic, who could exit Chelsea this summer.

The Croat has started just 17 Premier League matches this season and is approaching the final 12 months of his contract. Chelsea are having to consider offloading a number of players in the final year of their deals in order to stay within Financial Fair Play rules.

City are bracing for a number of exits this summer, possibly including Bernardo Silva and club captain Ilkay Gundogan. And so the Blues have been linked with a number of midfielders including Jude Bellingham.

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The Daily Mail claims Pep Guardiola is also fond of Kovacic, who has been told that the sparingly-used Kalvin Phillips wishes to remain at the Etihad. The table-toppers have also spoken about a move for Declan Rice, the article claims.

Mauricio Pochettino is expected to offload a number of players when he arrives at Chelsea with 29-year-old Kovacic being one of them. Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Edouard Mendy are also reportedly expected to exit.

Meanwhile, Football Insider says Vincent Kompany is keen on bringing young City goalkeeper James Trafford to Burnley. The Clarets boss watched the 20-year-old in loan club Bolton's League One play-off semi-final first leg against Barnsley on Saturday.

Trafford has kept 26 clean sheets in 51 matches this season, having conceded just 37 goals all campaign. He is yet to make his senior City debut but Kompany could offer him a faster route to Premier League football at Turf Moor.

Trafford joined Bolton on loan in January 2022, meaning he has now been at the club for 18 months. He is contracted at City until 2027.

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