Pep Guardiola and Manchester City set to block midfielder transfer in January window | OneFootball

Manchester City, alongside support from manager Pep Guardiola, will stand in the way of one midfield star in the January transfer window amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

That concerns the future of Mateo Kovacic, who has reportedly been placed towards the very top of the transfer shortlist put together by Saudi Pro League giants Al Nassr, and endorsed at the Middle-Eastern club by former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports earlier this month claimed that not only had the Saudi Arabian side made a move for Kovacic at the end of the last summer market, but that there was a clear intent to revive that intrigue in the player in the January window.

Finances would certainly not be a problem for the club, and there is a high chance that their proposals would certainly satisfy both Kovacic himself and Manchester City. However, the Premier League champions may be happy to turn down the opportunity of a huge profit.

That comes after a sensational start to the ongoing season by Mateo Kovacic, who has showcased his importance to Guardiola’s operation by starring in a defensive midfield role during the absence of Rodri.

According to the information of Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, both Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will be unwilling to sell Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic during the next January transfer window.

The report quotes sources, who claim that the 30-year-old versatile midfielder ‘is not expendable’ at the Etihad Stadium despite the return of Ilkay Gundogan, who re-joined Manchester City from FC Barcelona towards the end of the last summer market.

From the side of manager Pep Guardiola, it is also pointed out that the Catalan tactician is a “big fan” of the four-time Champions League winner, and that has largely been shown by Kovacic’s place in the starting line-ups during the start of the new season.

Mateo Kovacic has been integral to Manchester City recording three successive wins in their opening three Premier League matches this season, offering a goalscoring contribution in the process on the opening weekend in a 0-2 win over Chelsea.

Following on from Erling Haaland’s strike at Stamford Bridge, Kovacic showcased his ability to transition from defence into attack with a driving run to beat Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, before firing past Robert Sanchez from distance.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid man’s tactical flexibility to star in defensive midfield also ensured that Manchester City would continue to perform without Rodri in victories over Ipswich Town and West Ham United before the first international break of the season.