Manchester City are reportedly prepared to let one of their first-team midfielders leave the club in the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola has endured arguably his most challenging season as Citizens boss and his ageing squad that has been hampered with injuries and is currently involved in a hotly-contested battle to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Securing a top-four, or top-five, finish in the Premier League would likely boost City's chances of luring some of their top transfer targets to the Etihad Stadium ahead of the new season.
The Citizens are expected to continue their much-needed squad rebuild in the summer, one which began in January with the additions of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis for a combined fee of around £180m.
A number of senior Man City stars have been tipped to seeks pastures new in the summer and it appears that one, in particular, has been given the green light by the club to move on.
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Man City ready to part ways with Kovacic this summer
According to TEAMtalk, Man City have 'cleared the way' for experienced midfielder Mateo Kovacic to leave the Etihad this summer.
The Citizens are said to be open to selling the 30-year-old as part of their restructuring plans and could ask for a fee in the region of £25.2m (€30m) from interested suitors.
Sources claim that talks over a return to La Liga are 'already underway' for the former Real Madrid player, who is attracting interest from Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid.
It is understood that Atletico have already taken 'concrete steps' to explore a potential transfer for Kovacic and have made contact with the Croatian as well as made 'some preliminary indirect moves' with Man City.
Kovacic, who is under contract at the Etihad until June 2027, has played 79 times for Man City since joining from Chelsea in 2023, including 33 outings this season, and he has won four trophies including last season's Premier League title and the FIFA Club World Cup.
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Kovacic out, Ederson in at Man City?
The same report claims that Man City have already identified their 'ideal replacement' for Kovacic, and that man is Atalanta BC star Ederson.
Although Guardiola's side could face stern competition from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool for the Brazilian's signature, City are said to be determined to push ahead with a deal to recruit the 25-year-old this summer.
Ederson has established himself as an integral first-team player for Atalanta; only teammate Marten de Roon (3,572) has played more minutes for La Dea in all competitions this season than the two-cap Brazil international (3,277).
The 2023-24 Europa League winner has played 131 times for Atalanta in all competitions since joining the club in 2022 and he has just over two years left to run on his contract with the Serie A side, who currently sit third in the table and six points behind leaders Inter Milan.
Meanwhile, Man City have also been credited with an interest in Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who could be available for around £70m this summer.
Oliver Thomas
