Midfield glut stalls Inter's interest in Man City's Kovacic

Manchester City have put forward Croatia international Mateo Kovacic to Inter Milan, but the Serie A champions are unlikely to act while their midfield is already crowded, a report from Italy noted. The offer arrives as the Etihad Stadium side prepares for the new season.

Kovacic, 32, is listed among the players Manchester City intend to move on as part of a summer rebuild that has already produced several high‑profile incomings. The club sees the Croatian midfielder as surplus to requirements after reshaping the squad.

The £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest has dramatically altered the midfield picture for incoming manager Enzo Maresca, adding fresh competition in a role where Kovacic was once a regular under Pep Guardiola. Anderson’s arrival reshapes the options available to the new coach.

Director of football Hugo Viana is handling the outgoing side of the transfer business, exploring multiple destinations for Kovacic while pre‑season preparations gather pace at the Etihad Stadium. The approach to Inter represents one strand of that effort on the ground.

Italian journalist Matteo Moretto, writing for FcInterNewsit, reported that Inter have been offered the chance to sign Kovacic but that a move would "hardly be considered at the moment" because of the current volume of midfield players in the squad. What could change is a potential departure elsewhere in the midfield, which might reopen the conversation.

The lack of an obvious buyer leaves City with a number of experienced assets, and the market for players of Kovacic’s age and salary appears narrower than the supply of interested clubs. Nottingham Forest have been linked with interest, yet no concrete bid has materialised.

For Kovacic, the priority is regular first‑team football, and his performances for Croatia at the FIFA World Cup have reminded potential suitors of his quality. He seeks a club where he can feature prominently in the upcoming season.

Whether Manchester City can identify a willing buyer before the transfer window closes and before pre‑season commitments become disruptive remains the central challenge for Viana as the summer business unfolds.