Manchester United 'join' Mateo Kovacic race and more transfer rumours

Manchester United have joined the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in exploring a move for Mateo Kovacic this summer, according to reports.

Kovacic will enter the final 12 months of a five-year contract this summer, with talks over a fresh deal stalling despite Chelsea's desire to keep the Croatian at Stamford Bridge. Graham Potter's side have faced problems with several of their current players due to a reluctance to sign the kind of long-term contracts that saw Enzo Fernandez and Mykhaylo Mudryk commit to eight-and-a-half years in January.

City and Liverpool will look to reinforce their midfield ranks in the summer and have both expressed an interest in Kovacic, and now 90min has added United to the list of potential suitors who see the 29-year-old as a safe bet with Premier League and European experience.

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The report adds that Erik ten Hag's side see Kovacic as an alternative to Frenkie de Jong, with the Dutchman keen on adding a ball-playing No.8 to his ranks. Barcelona midfielder De Jong has long been a target of United's but insisted recently that he would prefer to stay in Spain and fight for his place under Xavi.

Elsewhere, Italian outlet Il Mattino reports that Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is willing to sell his prized assets at the right price this summer with United previously linked with both Victor Osimhen and Kim Min-jae.

Links with Osimhen have been commonplace in recent weeks and Ten Hag is keen on adding a world-class goalscorer to his ranks - albeit Harry Kane is the prime target. The Reds boss may also need to look at defensive reinforcements, with the futures of both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof uncertain.

The report