MANCHESTER UNITED are weighing up a move to bring Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic to Old Trafford, according to reports.
The Croatian international has fallen down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu, as Jose Mourinho eyes up a potential bid for the 23-year-old.
According to French news outlet Le10Sport, the Red Devils are interested in the signing of the Inter Milan star.
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Kovacic has been restricted to just six appearances in the top-flight this season- starting just once – as he is forced to compete with the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Isco.
It is believed that he is desperate for first team chances, and is willing to leave the La Liga champions for regular football.
Mourinho is understood to have identified the 38-cap international as a possible replacement for the retiring Michael Carrick, while Marouane Fellaini has just six months left om his deal.
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And with Ander Herrera failing to win over the Portuguese boss, Kovacic could be given a starring role at the Theatre of Dreams.
SunSport revealed back in December that United were preparing a possible £27mllion bid the two-time Champions League winner away from the Spanish capital.
Since joining from Inter in 2015, the former Dinamo Zagreb man has racked up 89 appearances for Madrid, netting on three occasions.
He started in Los Blancos’ humiliating 2-1 defeat against minnows Leganes as they crashed out of the Copa del Rey on away goals on Wednesday.