Add Mateo Kovacic to Juventus’ list of reported midfield transfer targets

We’ve been down this road before. Transfer targets come and go, some gain traction, others are basically force-fed to us by Tuttosport because they have nothing better to do when the transfer window has slow days.

So to see Mateo Kovacic being linked to Juventus isn’t something that is newfound transfer gossip being thrown out there. We were here just about 14 months ago.

No, this is not June 2016, obviously. Kovacic is another year older and another year separated from his days wearing an Inter jersey. But Kovacic, again, has emerged as the latest name to be linked to Juventus in the ever-growing central midfielder list that the Italian press has put together over the last couple of months.

A new name for Juventus midfield has emerged today. On top of N'Zonzi, Matuidi, Andre Gomes and Can now the bianconeri are pursuing Mateo Kovacic, a player they have been interested in since his time at Inter. So far Juventus have only contacted the midfielder's camp, while getting a deal done with Real Madrid is expected to be difficult, but should there be other potential developments on other situations in the future, the deal could take off.

(Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

We know N’Zonzi. We know Matuidi. We know Andre Gomes and Emer Can. They’ve all been linked with a potential move to Juventus in the past few weeks and months. That’s no secret.

But could Kovacic be the best of the bunch?

If not the best, he’s certainly up there. And unlike all of those names previously mentioned, he knows what Serie A — and Juventus, too — is all about.

If Kovacic is really in the mix and becoming an option for Juve this summer, nobody expects the transfer negotiations with Real Madrid to be easy. And he’s not going to come cheap either no matter if it’s on a loan-with-option-to-buy Beppe Marotta Special or an outright sale. That’s no secret.

Kovacic to Juventus, though? Count me in.