Forest and Villa Lock Horns for Manchester City Midfield Star Mateo Kovačić

Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are both weighing up moves for Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovačić, with SportsBoom understanding the Premier League champions are prepared to cash in on the Croatian if the right offer arrives this summer.

The vastly experienced midfielder has just 12 months remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium and faces an uncertain future after enduring the most frustrating campaign of his career.

Kovacic, 32, made just six Premier League appearances last season, the lowest league tally of his professional career, as injuries and fierce competition for places restricted his opportunities under Pep Guardiola.

Despite his reduced role, the 114-cap Croatia international believes he still has plenty left in the tank and is keen to secure regular first-team football. 

A move away from Manchester is viewed as the best route to achieving that ambition.

Both Forest and Villa are in the market for proven midfield quality and see Kovacic as a player capable of bringing leadership, composure and a winning mentality to their squads.

Nottingham Forest are set to bring in Elliot Anderson for a club-record fee, but are already planning for life without Rodri and Mateo Kovačić, with the Spaniard also linked with a potential departure as part of a broader midfield reshuffle.

NEGOTIATIONS

City are not actively pushing the midfielder towards the exit door, but with his contract entering its final year, the club are understood to be open to negotiations if their valuation is met.

Kovacic signed a four-year contract when he joined City from Chelsea in June 2023, becoming the first Croatian player in the club's history. 

During his three seasons at the Etihad, he has added further silverware to an already glittering collection, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

The former Dinamo Zagreb academy graduate has enjoyed one of the most decorated careers of any midfielder of his generation. 

After emerging in Croatia, he earned a move to Inter Milan before joining Real Madrid, where he made 73 La Liga appearances and collected a host of major honours.

PROVEN WINNER

He later moved to Chelsea, initially on loan, before making the switch permanent. 

Across five seasons with the Blues, Kovacic made 140 appearances and helped the club lift the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup.

On the international stage, he has been a cornerstone of Croatia's golden generation. 

Kovacic played a key role in the side that reached the 2018 World Cup final in Russia and later helped his country secure third place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Few players on the market can match his pedigree. League titles, European trophies and World Cup heroics are just some of the achievements on a remarkable CV that spans almost two decades at the highest level.

With Forest and Villa both exploring potential deals, Kovacic could become one of the most intriguing Premier League transfer battles of the summer as he looks to write the next chapter of an extraordinary career.