Here are your Friday evening Manchester City headlines.
Kovacic medical
Mateo Kovacic is set to undergo a medical on Friday that will move him closer to being the first Manchester City signing of the summer.
Earlier in the week, City agreed an initial fee of £25m with Chelsea for Kovacic that includes a further £5m in potential add-ons, with the West London club happy to sell the player on as they look to balance their books after unprecedented spending last season under their new owners. The Croatian is keen on the move and should complete it later this week providing there are no issues with the medical.
Rodri came face-to-face with his latest teammate during the Nations League Final as Spain pipped Croatia in a penalty shootout. Kovacic signing early in the window does mean that he will be able to join Guardiola and the rest of the squad for the beginning of pre-season next month.
ALSO READ: ‘Incredible’ Mateo Kovacic hands Declan Rice another City transfer incentive
Rice stance
Manchester City are yet to turn interest in Declan Rice into a bid as they weigh up what their midfield should look like next season.
There will definitely be some change, with Ilkay Gundogan set to join Barcelona and Mateo Kovacic joining from Chelsea for an initial £25m. However, Kovacic is not seen as a direct replacement for Gundogan and the club are again willing to accept a reasonable offer for Bernardo Silva if Paris Saint-Germain or anyone else firms up their interest.
West Ham midfielder Rice would be more of a direct replacement for Gundogan in terms of the fact he would be a marquee signing to replace one of City's most important midfielders, although in terms of playing style the comparison doesn't quite hold up. While Pep Guardiola has a brilliant track record of improving players, neither Kovacic nor Rice look ready-made to find space in the opposition box and provide the goal threat that Gundogan did.
