Real Madrid have reportedly turned down an offer worth €25 million from Tottenham for out-of-favour midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Spanish publication AS have reported that Mateo Kovacic was the subject of a bid from Tottenham, who are targetting the Croat in the summer transfer window. The North London club’s offer, though, has been swiftly rejected by Real Madrid, who are seeking a higher bid for the midfielder.
Kovacic arrived at Real Madrid from Inter Milan in the summer of 2015 with a burgeoning reputation of being one of the most promising young midfielders in the world. The Croatian international, though, has failed to establish himself as a regular fixture in the first-team setup at the Bernabeu.
While Kovacic has featured in 73 matches in all competitions over the last two seasons, he has only managed to start 35 of them, having been below the likes of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the pecking order. Despite not being a regular though, the player has still managed to give a good account of himself.
His position at the Bernabeu though, is mired in heavy uncertainty following the arrival of Dani Ceballos this summer. Meanwhile, Marcos Llorente has returned from a loan spell at Alaves and is set to be a part of Zinedine Zidane’s squad next season, which further threatens to put Kovacic in a fix.
The 23-year-old is keen to secure regular game time in order to make Croatia’s squad for next year’s World Cup. While he is still determined to fight for his place at Real Madrid, the player might have to call time on his spell at the Bernabeu this summer in order to achieve his personal objectives.
Kovacic remains a highly sought-after player in the transfer market, with several clubs interested in signing him. Chief among these are Tottenham, who have tabled their initial offer for the Croat.
Mauricio Pochettino has done a remarkable job at the North London club, having guided the club to two consecutive Top 3 finishes. The Argentine is now eager to mount a challenge for the Premier League title next season and is, thus, set to make reinforcements in different positions.
Midfield is a priority as well, even though the Tottenham boss has a strong midfield at his disposal. But, with Eric Dier being heavily linked to Manchester United, Pochettino could have just Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele as his only recognised options.
The Lilywhites’ €25 million bid, however, has been turned down by Real Madrid, who have made it clear that they want a higher offer. It now remains to be seen if Tottenham raise their offer for Kovacic, or if he ends up staying to fight for his place in Zidane’s side.
