In the upcoming season of 2023/24, Manchester City is considering the possibility of having Declan Rice and Mateo Kovacic as their new midfielders. As they aim to defend their European crown under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
While City has already reached a personal agreement with Kovacic and is expected to finalize the deal soon. They have also shown interest in West Ham United’s captain, Declan Rice. According to The Guardian, City is going to compete with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, and Manchester United for the signing of the talented England international.
With these developments, there is a genuine chance that Rice and Kovacic could form a partnership in Manchester City’s midfield next season. Moreover, there is already a strong foundation for their potential collaboration. As both players have expressed their admiration for each other in the past.
Declan Rice’s views on Kovacic
During an interview with BT Sport last year, Rice was asked to name his toughest midfield opponents in the Premier League, and he spoke highly of Kovacic’s exceptional technical abilities. Rice praised the Croatian midfielder, saying, “He is incredible. I think you don’t really realize how good he is until you play against him. Obviously, when you watch him, you appreciate the good footballer that he is.”
Rice went on to elaborate on Kovacic’s qualities, highlighting his ability to handle the ball in tight areas. Also his remarkable dribbling skills, his passing accuracy, game-controlling abilities, and surprising speed. He shared his experiences facing Kovacic on the pitch, including their encounters during the Euros. And he admitted that the Chelsea midfielder’s skills left a lasting impression on him. It cemented his opinion that Kovacic is indeed a top player.
In turn, Kovacic has also spoken highly of Rice in the past. Prior to the England vs Croatia match in Euro 2020, the former Real Madrid player acknowledged the quality of England’s midfield. He specifically mentioned Rice along with Mason Mount and Jordan Henderson. He described Rice as an excellent player, emphasizing his contributions to West Ham.
If Rice and Kovacic do join Manchester City, they would strengthen Guardiola’s midfield options. Alongside options like Rodri, Kalvin Phillips, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne. However, it is worth noting that Gundogan’s contract is going to expire soon. It will potentially lead to his departure from the club. Furthermore, there is interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Silva and Phillips has also been linked with a potential exit from City. In this context, Rice and Kovacic could serve as valuable replacements for the departing stars. They will ensure the team’s continued midfield strength and depth.
