Manchester City are interested in Mirza Catovic and are reportedly keeping a close eye on one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders as he edges closer to his Bundesliga debut for VfB Stuttgart.
According to Sky Sport Deutschland, the 18-year-old has emerged as a serious target for City’s academy director Thomas Krucken, who previously worked at Stuttgart and was instrumental in bringing Catovic into the German club’s youth system.
The report describes Catovic as a “midfield jewel” whose technical skill, vision, and versatility have drawn interest from several top clubs across Europe.
Krucken’s influence and Catovic’s rise in Germany
According to the report, Manchester City are interested in Mirza Catovic as a result of Krucken’s familiarity with the player dates back to his tenure at Stuttgart, where he identified the Serbian youngster’s potential early on. Sources say that when Krucken joined Manchester City’s academy setup a few years ago, he was eager to bring Catovic along with him to England.
However, the player chose to stay in Germany, committing his immediate future to Stuttgart by signing a contract extension.
Since then, Catovic has continued to progress rapidly through the club’s youth ranks. He made his senior debut for Stuttgart’s second team in Germany’s third division and has been training regularly with the first-team squad.
Although Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness has not yet handed him his first senior appearance, the midfielder has already been named on the bench for two Europa League matches this season — a clear sign of the trust and belief the coaching staff have in him.
The young Serbian has also been one of the standout performers for Stuttgart II this term, making nine appearances so far. His ability to control play from deep and dictate tempo has impressed both fans and scouts.
As Sky Sport Deutschland notes, Catovic is currently “satisfied” with his development path, but that could change if opportunities in the first team become limited in the coming months.
For now, he remains on the cusp of a breakthrough. Stuttgart’s coaches are expected to gradually integrate him into Bundesliga action, with Hoeness hinting that Catovic’s first-team debut could come in the near future if he maintains his form and focus.
Manchester City’s interest and future prospects
Manchester City’s recruitment model under Pep Guardiola and their academy management team has long emphasized identifying young, technically gifted players who can adapt to the club’s possession-based style of football.
Krucken, now overseeing talent development at City, reportedly remains an admirer of Catovic and views him as an ideal fit for the club’s youth-to-first-team pipeline.
The Sky Blues, however, are not expected to make a formal approach unless the player himself signals a desire to move. With Stuttgart having secured Catovic to a long-term contract until the summer of 2028, the Bundesliga side are in a strong position regarding his future.
Any transfer would therefore likely depend on the player’s personal ambitions and playing time in Germany.
Importantly, Catovic’s age means there would be no regulatory hurdles if he did decide to join an English team. Under post-Brexit rules, British clubs are prohibited from signing foreign players under the age of 18.
Now that Catovic has reached that milestone, he would be eligible for an international transfer without restrictions — a detail that could make him an even more appealing long-term prospect for City.
