Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel will reportedly look to bring Mateo Kovacic to Bayern Munich this summer.
It comes amid Bayern’s raid on the Blues for highly-rated assistant coach Anthony Barry, who worked with Tuchel at Chelsea.
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The German coach was sacked by Todd Boehly in September and appears set on exacting revenge on the American billionaire with his latest move.
According to the Telegraph, it is not just Barry that Tuchel is after from his old hunting ground, but Kovacic as well.
The Croatia international could be one of several stars to leave Stamford Bridge this summer with a mass clearout planned as a result of their huge squad.
Kovacic will see his contract expire in the summer of 2024 and there has been no movement over a new deal.
It has already alerted the attention of Manchester City, but Bayern could ramp up their interest with Tuchel a huge fan of the midfielder, who helped him win the Champions League in 2021.
Losing the former Real Madrid star would be a huge blow to the Blues, where he has recently adopted the captain’s armband after the departure of Jorginho to Arsenal in January.
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Tuchel said of Kovacic last year: “He looks like a wonderkid in training in some exercises.
“A lovely guy, a humble guy, and so interested in sports. He’s so happy to train and deliver for the team. It’s a true pleasure.
“Even at Real Madrid, I was aware of his talent, and I felt there was a next step coming.
“I’m very happy that he’s my player and plays a lot this season. He is crucial to us on the pitch and off the pitch in the way he behaves.”
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If Kovacic does leave in the summer for Munich, it would likely be the second high-profile departure of its kind with the German giants determined to prise Barry away.
Tuchel named the coach in his first press conference as Bayern boss after replacing Julian Nagelsmann last week.
On Saturday, he said: “My coaching staff wasn’t prepared either, so a big thank you to their families for their flexibility.
“Arno Michels and Zsolt Low, who have been working with me for over ten years, will be there.
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“We’re hoping to add Anthony Barry, who is currently at Chelsea.”
Tuchel’s comments have infuriated the club, while the 36-year-old has told Chelsea that he would like to go to the Allianz Arena with his old boss.
Barry, who is also Roberto Martinez’s assistant at Portugal, was brought to the club by Frank Lampard in 2020 and was kept on after the former midfielder was sacked.
Martinez worked with him at Belgium and has been impressed by his methods, bringing him to his new post with the Euro 2016 winners earlier this year.