Manchester City transfer news: City midfielder Mateo Kovačić reportedly wants to leave the club in January after becoming frustrated with his role under Enzo Maresca. Sportske novosti, the Croatian outlet behind the report, says the 32-year-old feels he has been treated unfairly since the managerial change. The report says Kovačić had concerns about his playing time before Enzo Fernández arrived from Chelsea on deadline day, yet assurances about regular minutes did not translate into a bigger role.
Kovačić reportedly held discussions with sporting director Hugo Viana and Maresca as City reshaped their midfield. According to the report, Viana told him that City still counted on him, while Maresca gave similar assurances about opportunities. However, Fernández joined late in the window, while Elliot Anderson and teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi had already strengthened the competition.
Kovačić then watched the last two Premier League matches from the bench. He wanted to leave before the window closed and received interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but a move did not materialise. His contract runs until June 2027. Those developments have left him questioning his role.
Manchester City Transfer News: Should Mateo Kovačić leave in January?
There is a football reason behind Kovačić’s frustration. He returned from a difficult injury spell and needs regular football, yet City have developed other midfield options under Maresca. FBref records two Premier League appearances and 44 minutes for him this season, plus one Champions League appearance and 16 minutes.
That limited role matters because Kovačić’s strengths remain useful. He protects possession under pressure, carries the ball through midfield and can help a team escape a tight press. His passing security gives a side control when matches become scrappy. Yet the Croat’s lack of goals and assists means Maresca may prefer midfielders who offer more attacking threat alongside his possession structure.
That matters during a packed season, with European fixtures adding pressure. Kovačić can still offer control, ball carrying and experience, but selection has not arrived. If Maresca trusts Fernández, Anderson and Bouaddi ahead of him, the Croatian may have to choose between a reduced role and a fresh start elsewhere. That choice could arrive sooner than expected.
The Sunderland match provided another telling snapshot. City beat Sunderland 5-3 on September 20, with Fernández scoring his first City goal, while Kovačić stayed on the bench. City have won all five Premier League matches under Maresca, so the manager has little reason to change a winning selection simply to accommodate an experienced player.
What should Manchester City do with Kovačić?
From City’s perspective, January could present a practical solution. Kovačić’s estimated salary is £150,000 per week, while his contract expires in June 2027. Those figures come from salary databases rather than an official club disclosure, so they should be treated as estimates. A January sale could bring a fee for a player who otherwise enters the final months of his deal.
There is another issue. Kovačić offers experience that young midfielders cannot reproduce overnight, especially in Champions League matches and difficult away fixtures. Selling him too quickly could leave Maresca short of a proven option if injuries hit Fernández, Anderson or Bouaddi. That makes the decision less straightforward than a wage calculation.
Still, if Kovačić wants out, keeping him without a meaningful role would create an awkward situation. A January transfer could give him regular football elsewhere while allowing City to reshape their squad before his contract expires. The Croatian’s next move could depend as much on his minutes as City’s need to protect an asset.
