Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for Premier League champions Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola keen.
According to Catalan publication El Nacional, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is interested in making a swoop for Real Madrid midfield mainstay Luka Modric when his contract expires at the end of the ongoing season.
Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012, Modric has written himself in the annals of Real Madrid as one of the greatest ever midfielders to take the field for the club. After a disastrous debut season, the way the Croatian bounced back and helped the Spanish giants to La Decima was exceptional.
Modric was then critical in each of their subsequent three UEFA Champions League triumphs under Zinedine Zidane as well, while he also went on to break the Cristiano Ronaldo – Lionel Messi duopoly in the Ballon d’Or awards. To date, the veteran midfielder, who turned 36 earlier this week, has made 392 appearances for Real Madrid, bagging 28 goals and 62 assists.
Despite his age, Modric continues to dazzle on the pitch and remains an integral part of this Real Madrid setup. However, with his contract up for expiry at the end of the campaign, Manchester City are ready to swoop in and lure him back to England. The report states that manager Guardiola is keen on adding a midfielder that provides the perfect balance between attack and defence to his ranks.
With Fernandinho nearing the end of his career at this level and Bernardo Silva also making it clear this past summer that he wanted out, there could be room open in the midfield department at the Etihad. And Guardiola, as per the report, hopes to fill it with the signing of Modric, even if it would only be a short-term solution.
The Croatian international is said to be keen on finishing his career in the United States of America and has already had approaches from the likes of Inter Miami and D.C United. And Manchester City could look to exploit this as well, given that they have a sister club, New York City FC playing in the Major League Soccer.
So, the report states that the reigning champions of England could make a move to sign Modric on a contract that would see him play in the Premier League initially before moving to the USA to wind off his career in the MLS. As iterated earlier, despite his advancing years, Modric is going absolutely strong and could add a lot of value to the table with his experience and know-how.
Whether Manchester City do end up making a move for the Real Madrid superstar when his contract runs out, or if the Merengues decide to tie him down with another short-term contract, remains to be seen.
