Juventus Eye Kovacic as City Midfielder's Contract Winds Down
Matteo Kovacic is 32, his contract at Manchester City runs until the summer of 2027, and Juventus are keeping tabs on him as a possible January signing. That's the picture according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, and it's one that raises the familiar question of how City handle a player entering the final stretch of his deal.
The Turin club's interest comes with a clear short-term motivation: they are grappling with a midfield injury crisis, with Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli both reported to be unavailable for the rest of the calendar year. Juventus are on the hunt for reinforcements, and Kovacic's name has surfaced as a candidate.
No formal talks have taken place at this stage. No negotiations are yet underway. That's the current state of play, and it may stay that way.
For City, the situation is less about panic and more about planning. Kovacic moved to the Etihad in 2023 after making his name at Inter Milan and enjoying trophy-winning spells at Real Madrid and Chelsea. His experience is not in question. What is in question is how the club views his role beyond the current campaign, with his deal expiring in 2027.
Juventus, for their part, are dealing with an immediate problem. The loss of Thuram and Locatelli for the remainder of the year leaves a gap that needs filling. Whether they see Kovacic as the answer, or simply one of several options, remains to be seen. For now, it's just interest. No more, no less.