Chelsea have not opened talks with midfielder Mateo Kovacic over a new deal despite the player entering the final 18 months of his current terms at the Bridge.
Kovacic will have only one year remaining on his contract come the end of the season amid the rising possibility that the former Real Madrid man could be on the move with Manchester United keeping tabs on his situation.
According to a report from the Evening Standard, it is claimed that the Chelsea camp are yet to start negotiations with Kovacic and his representatives over extending his stay in the English capital beyond 2024.
Joining the Premier League champions Man City in pursuit of the Chelsea midfielder are Bayern Munich, now under the charge of the ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, with the Bavarian outfit mulling over signing the 28-year-old this summer.
There is speculation doing the rounds that Kovacic could be deemed surplus to requirements when the transfer window reopens for business later this year as Chelsea plan to bring in another fresh pair of legs to join British transfer-record signing Enzo Fernandez.
