Linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks and months, it is no surprise to see Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic on the nomination for this year’s European Golden Boy award.

The gong, voted for by journalists, is handed out to the best young player of the year and last season was won by Juventus’s Paul Pogba.

15 wonderkids to sign in Football Manager 2015 (Part 2)

Kovacic is among the favourites for this season’s award, having impressed in Serie A since arriving from Dinamo Zagreb in January 2013. Already the recipient of 17 international caps from Croatia, here is the story of Kovacic’s Golden Boy nomination.

Major honours in the calender year

It was a difficult year for Inter, who could only finish fifth in Serie A. They didn’t fare much better in the cup, going out at the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia to Udinese.

However on a personal note, Kovacic did enough to earn a call-up to Croatia’s World Cup squad. He played in all three games of their unsuccessful campaign, which ended at the group stages, with one of those appearances coming from the start.

Key Stats

No player aged 20 or below across Europe’s top five leagues secured a higher Squawka Performance Score than Kovacic last season.

This season to date he has created more chances than any other player, of any age, in Serie A and has created a chance every 32 minutes for Inter. He has also completed 42 take ons, the second highest figure of any player in the division.

Why he deserves his nomination

At the age of 20 he’s already being told by his national teammate Darijo Srna that he is too big for Inter and is in need of a move. Inter may not be at their best at the moment, but that is high talk indeed of a 20-year-old who has become one of the best young players in Serie A since his 2013 move to the club.

Last season saw Kovacic in and out of the side, making 14 starts and 18 substitute appearances in Serie A. Inevitably that meant he only got to offer glimpses of his best form in what was not the easiest of seasons. However he has since kicked on this season and started every game. If Inter fans ever needed a reminder of his talents last year, he provided three assists in the 4-1 win over Lazio at the tail end of the season.

This season he has backed that up with his first league goals for the club in a year that could see him step up to the next level. No Inter player has created more chances than Kovacic in his 11 games so far, while he is second in terms of Squawka Performance Score.

Inter chances created 2014/15

Does he have a chance of winning?

Having been on the edge of the Inter side last year if he does win it it will be down to recent form. Had he shown the form he has this season, across the whole calender year, then he would be the outright favourite with Raheem Sterling. As it is he has a pretty good chance anyway, being one of the biggest names and most talented players in the group.

He faces stiff competition, but is likely to be among the front runners for the award.