Mateo Kovacic on Barcelona radar

Barcelona are pondering a bid for Inter Milan starlet Mateo Kovacic, according to Tuttosport.

With club icon Xavi Hernandez almost certain to leave at the end of the season, the Catalans aim to recruit a quality central midfielder at the earliest opportunity.

And the latest reports suggest they will be making a move on Inter’s Mateo Kovacic when their transfer ban is lifted in January 2016.

Tuttosport has learned that new Barca chief Ariedo Braida was present at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza last night as the Nerazzurri faced Wolfsburg, and enquired about the possibility of luring the Croatian midfielder to Camp Nou.

Mateo Kovacic, 20, has had mixed success since arriving at Inter from Dinamo Zagreb, making 70 Serie A appearances and scoring 5 goals.

Therefore, the talented footballer’s long-term future at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza could be in doubt and it remains to be seen whether he will be interested in a switch to Spanish La Liga.