Chelsea-bound Mauricio Pochettino ‘identifies a new No. 6 as his priority’ and paves the way for Mateo Kovacic to LEAVE Stamford Bridge… with former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel ‘looking to make a move for the Croat ‘
Mateo Kovacic could be reunited with former boss Thomas Tuchel this summer, with Mauricio Pochettino reportedly picking a No. 6 as his priority this summer.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and PSG boss is closely linked with the vacant management position at The Blues, after Graham Potter was sacked after just seven months.
As a result, he has been quick to outline his plans for where Chelsea can strengthen in the summer, according to Subwayshould he be appointed manager, with a deeper lying midfielder at the top of his list.
This would pose a problem for Kovacic, who currently plays for the club there, but could see him reunited with a manager he had so much success with as a result.
German outlet Image reports that Tuchel is keen to sign a deep-lying midfielder of his own to operate in front of defence, with the four-time Champions League winner fitting the bill.
Mateo Kovacic is said to be ready for a reunion with former boss Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich
Reports from Germany suggest that Tuchel is dissatisfied with the status of the team he has inherited
Mauricio Pochettino has been strongly linked with a vacant management position at Stamford Bridge
Bayern Munich can currently count on Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer in midfield, although neither is as effective as Kovacic in this particular role.
Austria’s Laimer often takes a higher position on the pitch, while Kimmich is more suited to a creative passing role, neither of which is used as a defensive barrier.
As a result, Kovacic could be well suited to Tuchel’s new Bayern side, with the 49-year-old reportedly unhappy with the status of the side he has inherited from Julian Nagelsmann.
The Croat is out of contract in 2024, and with their books already thought to be inflated by an influx of players under Todd Boehly, Kovacic could make way this summer at a cut price.
There is believed to be general pressure for the Blues to ease some of the tension after splashing £600m in their last two windows, with a number of players capable of playing in the two central midfield spots in their current system. to play.
In addition to Kovacic, Chelsea boasts players such as N’Golo Kante, Enzo Fernandez, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher in central midfield, with Denis Zakaria on loan.
The Croatian has won a Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Europa League since arriving in 2018, initially on loan, and made 217 appearances for the west London side – much of that success coming under the reign of Tuchel.
Kovacic has made more than 200 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Real Madrid in 2018
Tuchel arrived on course for a treble with Bayern but now finds his side two cups and second in the Bundesliga
Since joining Bayern, Tuchel has lost as many games since March 24 as Nagelsmann has managed all season, and the club is now out of the Champions League, DFB Pokal and runners-up in the title race.
Bild has also reported that the Bavarian giants could also target a No. 9 this summer, with Napoli star Victor Osimhen among the contenders.
The Nigerian is likely to cost any club a pretty penny this period given his relentless streak in front of the Italian runaway champion-elect, with estimates suggesting a fee of £133m (€150m) will be required.
However, it may work in Bayern’s favor that the striker’s German girlfriend is eager to return to her homeland, according to Bild.