Mateo Kovacic

Matic 2.0, his legs are gone
As someone who watches every minute he plays, his legs have most certainty not gone. In fact, he’s one of the best athletes in our squad still. He’s a player who gets about the entire pitch so his energy levels naturally fade as the match goes on. Matić at the end of his time at United looked like a cruise ship trying to get around the pitch. Kova is still getting the ball from deep and carrying it through the lines as easily as he ever has.

I’d hate to lose him this summer, tbh. His only problem is picking up constant niggling injuries. Otherwise he’s still a top player.
 
As someone who watches every minute he plays, his legs have most certainty not gone. In fact, he’s one of the best athletes in our squad still. He’s a player who gets about the entire pitch so his energy levels naturally fade as the match goes on. Matić at the end of his time at United looked like a cruise ship trying to get around the pitch. Kova is still getting the ball from deep and carrying it through the lines as easily as he ever has.

I’d hate to lose him this summer, tbh. His only problem is picking up constant niggling injuries. Otherwise he’s still a top player.
To be fair, the one you sold us was quite decent for at least one more season. I'm just seeing the signs, but you obviously watch him more so fair enough.
 
To be fair, the one you sold us was quite decent for at least one more season. I'm just seeing the signs, but you obviously watch him more so fair enough.
Yeah, that’s what I meant. Matić was very good still when we sold him to you. By the time he left you he was completely past it is what I was trying to say.

Kova is still 5 years away from that sort of drop off.
 
Yeah, that’s what I meant. Matić was very good still when we sold him to you. By the time he left you he was completely past it is what I was trying to say.

Kova is still 5 years away from that sort of drop off.

Agree, IMO he will age well, he was 4th choice for club and country for some time and he didn't have a serious amount of minutes in his legs in that part of his career. To be fair to him, very few midfielder players would get into those midfield trios.

Of course, his athleticism is a big part of his style but his base ability still lies within technique and intelligence. Despite his game last night was not so good, I still believe he is the best available midfield option for the role we desperately need, especially with us spending big on #9. Chelsea would be mad to let him go easily.
 
As someone who watches every minute he plays, his legs have most certainty not gone. In fact, he’s one of the best athletes in our squad still. He’s a player who gets about the entire pitch so his energy levels naturally fade as the match goes on. Matić at the end of his time at United looked like a cruise ship trying to get around the pitch. Kova is still getting the ball from deep and carrying it through the lines as easily as he ever has.

I’d hate to lose him this summer, tbh. His only problem is picking up constant niggling injuries. Otherwise he’s still a top player.

I can't see you losing him to a rival,he might fancy going to a Juve/Bayern though
 
I can't see you losing him to a rival,he might fancy going to a Juve/Bayern though
He is not that good if he doesn't renew and he wants to move to PL rival only Chelsea would sanction the move .
 
Adding him and a young deep lying playmaker would help the midfield for next year without being transfer busting
 
There’s a lot of 29 ish year old utility midfielders available on a budget who’d sort of do a job: Sabitzer, Kovacic, Rabiot, I’m probably missing one or two as well. I think we’d do well to pick up one of them but I’d be disappointed if they were our only signing in the area. Guess like the rest of our business it depends on the owners.
 
I think his profile of player and the stats that show what he’s really good at are exactly what our midfield misses. But every Chelsea fan I see online seems to suggest he’s nowhere near as good as many neutrals think. Weird one
 
He'd be quality but I'd assume we'd be behind Bayern and City in possible destinations. He's played for Tuchel before and City are losing Gundogan and missed out on Bellingham.
 
I think his profile of player and the stats that show what he’s really good at are exactly what our midfield misses. But every Chelsea fan I see online seems to suggest he’s nowhere near as good as many neutrals think. Weird one

According to a lot of United fans (on this forum), half our squad is useless. Now imagine we had a season like Chelsea this season. And what our fans would think of any United player online.
 
Skill-set wise (at his best at least) interest on our part would make some sense. "Press resistant" is a term that has been used quite often both in terms of our weaknesses and his strengths.

On the other hand he's coming off the back of a poor season and wouldn't exactly help with our age profile issue in midfield.
 
Energy, press resistant and drives with the ball. If rumours are to be believed, then I could understand why ten Hag would want him, simply because he shares similar traits to Frenkie de Jong.
 
I would be happy with this signing, but I am not seeing us linked to him anywhere, Bayern, City and Newcastle are the clubs that are being linked with his transfer.
 
Kovacic would almost certainly improve us in the immediate term but we've also got to be wary about assembling a team that grows old together. We already have a few players approaching or over 30 years old, and we'll probably be in for Kane at some point too. I'd prefer a younger model if we can find one.
 
I think he's a really good player. Mata and Matic were good players too though, and they weren't exactly success stories here :(
 
Kovacic is class, and is exactly the sort of player we need to add. But instead we'll probably sign geriatric Kante on 300k per week
 
I fail to see how a rotational player at a mid table club would be quality for us. An improvement perhaps but not the right standard.
 
Him and Enzo don’t work so why would he come here and work. We need better.
 
Technically very good but does nothing with it.Avoid.
 
He's style of play is exactly what we need but he could be on a massive decline right now. I think he will go to Bayern or City anyways
 
Bruno (28), Casemiro (31), Fred (30), Eriksen (31) and potentially Kovacic at 29, you could argue that the majority of these players have had their better years behind them.
 
Would imagine Lavia will be available for a similar price in the summer. Would much rather bring him in and have him develop alongside Casemiro.
 
He has played like someone who has mentally checked out of the season since the World Cup. Excellent player on his day but probably a good time for both parties to part ways.

Would prefer to sell him abroad than to a rival but I’m actually not that bothered if he ends up at United or City.
 
He has played like someone who has mentally checked out of the season since the World Cup. Excellent player on his day but probably a good time for both parties to part ways.

Would prefer to sell him abroad than to a rival but I’m actually not that bothered if he ends up at United or City.
In fairness, few enough players look good at Chelsea this season that it's hard to judge them on their merits. There are bigger transfer priorities for ye than letting Kovacic go imo.
 
Him and Enzo don’t work so why would he come here and work. We need better.
Well, because he has the same assets as FDJ. Both are a press resistant midfielder who can progress the ball with his dribbling and can retain possession.