After earning only eight starts in a star-studded Real Madrid line-up in his debut season, Mateo Kovacic looks likely to leave the club this summer with Liverpool, AS Roma and Juventus all reportedly interested to sign the youngster. TheHardTackle weighs in on the matter and discusses the potential moves that the want-away Croatian would fancy this transfer window.
Following a £24 million move from Inter Milan to Real Madrid last summer, Mateo Kovacic has since endured a torrid time at the Santiago Bernabeu with injuries and a galaxy of stars at the club keeping him out of first -team action for large parts of the season. The 22-year-old, who is on duty with Croatia at the European Championships in France, was tipped for big things during his time at Inter Milan and evidently a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2015 came at the wrong time for Kovacic.
Yes, he was part of a Champions’ League winning Real Madrid outfit last season but barring an inconsequential goal in Los Blancos’ 8-0 mauling of Malmö FF, Kovacic personally has little to be proud of what transpired in his debut campaign with the Spanish giants. With no guarantee of first-team action next season either and clubs circling around the Croatian in a bid to acquire his services, Real Madrid look primed to do away with their £24 million acquisition this summer. TheHardTackle weighs in on Kovacic’s potential exit and analyses which one of the three clubs could help the midfielder get back into the thick of first team action and help him chart a new growth curve.
Roma
The Romans smarting from the loss of star midfielder Miralem Pjanic to Serie A Champions Juventus, have already begun to sound out potential suitors for the role and Kovacic is one of them with the Giallorossi keen on bringing the Croatian to the Stadio Olimpico. Pjanic was a crucial part of Luciano Spalletti’s plans last season and played a major role in the side’s run up to Champions’ League qualification. That said, Kovacic will have big shoes to fill should he take over the reigns in center-midfield for Roma. However a look back to his time at Inter Milan, prior to his Real Madrid switch, throws light on what he’s capable of and how he could prove to be a useful investment for Roma should they take the plunge.
As observed from the above comparison matrix, Pjanic possesses a more attacking threat to his game than Kovacic does. But what the Croatian loses out going forward, he more than compensates for it with his defensive attributes. While Roma were the league’s highest goal scorers in the 2015/16 season, by letting away 42 goals, they conceded the most for a side finishing in the Champions’ League places. If Spalletti’s team are to have any reasonable prospects of challenging against an all-conquering Juventus side for domestic honours, they’ll need to get their defence sorted this summer. And it helps the back-line when there is a defence-minded midfielder sitting in front of them taking control of his area of the park.
While Pjanic gives them that extra edge in attack, Kovacic promises to replicate the same but with the added incentive of stability in front of the back-line. With Radja Nainggolan also being fancied to make a move away from the Italian capital this summer and Pjanic already gone Kovacic’s arrival could be a softener on a summer that could witness a mass exodus at the club. The lack of first-choice midfield options also means the Croatian, owing to his quality, could walk straight-away into the starting line-up and barring injury setbacks could be primed to chart further progress to his game.
Liverpool
The Reds have been in the market to sign a number of options in center-midfield this summer with the likes of Piotr Zielinski to go with the arrival of Marko Grujic at a club that already houses Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, James Milner, Emre Can and Lucas Leiva. However in a bid to take the burden off Brazilian attacking midfield duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, Jurgen Klopp has entered the race to sign Kovacic. The Croatian’s attacking credentials may not match up to that of the Reds’ two Brazilians, but where Klopp prides on his side’s work ethic and hard-work to define it’s success, a versatile Kovacic checks all those boxes for the German.
Jurgen Klopp isn’t a fan of luxury players per se but he does value skill and hard work. The player will therefore be worked to the bone, but that’s exactly what will get the best out of such a naturally talented young man. Taking the creative load from Philippe Coutinho’s shoulders would be a welcome aside to his signature for the Reds, with no loss of quality in that area of the pitch. Aside that he could add more impetus to Liverpool’s center-midfield position helping create chances going forward while keeping possession and ensuring stability.
With the futures of Jordan Henderson and James Milner at the club in doubt, Kovacic could prove to be a welcome addition in that area of the park as well and brings the quality Liverpool need to be challenging for silverware next season.
Juventus
Having just acquired the services of Miralem Pjanic from Roma a week ago, Juventus have already expressed interest in Kovacic in a bid to increase options in midfield amidst strong rumours of Paul Pogba’s summer exit. With Claudio Marchisio out till October due to injury, the Bianconeri are interested in bagging the services of a long admired target of Fabio Paratici, the club’s sporting director. Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly issued the Juventus hierarchy the go-ahead in their pursuit for the youngster and should they secure his services, the Old Lady must build the team around the duo of Pjanic and Kovacic, given Pogba leaves this summer.
Juventus built a side around a midfield trio of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba and managed to work wonders with Allegri leading them to a Champions’ League final aside the towering domestic glory with four Serie A titles to go with a double Italian Cup success. The club had looked to sign their man last season before losing him out to Real Madrid and settling to Hernanes. The Old Lady, who have groomed many an outcast in their system, looks to be the ideal hunting ground for Kovacic to re-invent a career that lost it’s spark in Madrid. Champions’ League football is also on offer and with the attacking talent of Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala up-front, there is reason to suggest his talent will be put to good use at Turin.
Is Kovacic Liverpool-bound?
Both the interested Italian clubs in Roma and Juventus have offered the Croatian star a loan deal, however according to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Reds are ready to buy Kovacic outright and bolster their options in midfield. After a disappointing season at the Santiago Bernabeu, it looks certain that Kovacic is eyeing a move elsewhere to get his career back on track and he maybe ready to consider Liverpool’s interest despite their inability to offer European football unlike their Italian competitors.
A number of news sources are hence pitting Liverpool as pole favourites to take Kovacic’s signature. The 22-year-old will be expected to let his decision be known by the time he returns from the Euros with Croatia. Until then, we can expect a transfer tussle between the aforementioned sides as they look to help a promising talent touch his peak once more.
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