Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic.
According to AS, Tottenham Hotspur remain keen on Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic – but neither he nor the club are willing to strike a deal.
Kovacic, 23, was a top young talent in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb before heading to Inter Milan in 2013, and his fine performances in Italy earned him a 2015 move to Real Madrid.
Often touted as the heir to Luka Modric for Croatia, Kovacic has found himself behind Modric for Real too, and first-team football hasn’t always been easy for the playmaker.
Now, it’s claimed that Tottenham – as well as Inter Milan, AC Milan and Roma – are all keen to land Kovacic, but he isn’t keen to move on, and Real aren’t looking sell.
Tottenham’s hopes dead in the water?
Kovacic’s stance, coupled with Real’s reluctance to sell, means that Tottenham may be wasting their time with a bid for Kovacic, even if he would be a superb signing.
The report does note that major offers could sway Kovacic and Madrid this summer, but with Daniel Levy unlikely to sanction huge spending, Spurs may not be in with a legitimate shot of landing Kovacic.
The rumours do suggest that Tottenham’s primary focus this summer will be on signing a new central midfielder, with Kovacic just one of a host of names to be linked.
Kovacic certainly has the drive and dribbling ability to replace Dembele, but if the player and his club aren’t willing to deal, then Spurs need to look elsewhere.
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