The Daily Star reports that Chelsea are not planning to keep Mateo Kovacic beyond this season. The Croatian joined the Blues from Real Madrid on a season-long loan at the start of the campaign.
Kovacic has been a regular for Maurizio Sarri with six Premier League and two Europa League starts this season.
The 24-year-old claimed he is happy at the Blues (h/t Daily Star) but wasn’t going to commit to a future at Chelsea.
“It’s too early for these questions. I am here and very happy.”
The report adds that the Blues do not have a clause to make Kovacic’s stay permanent in his current deal, and would have to negotiate with Madrid at the start of next season.
The Blues have another problem regarding the rise of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The English pair have been great this season, and seem to be getting better with each game.
Loftus-Cheek has a hat-trick in the Europa League while Barkley has been scoring goals for fun recently. The former Evertonian has three goals from his last three Premier League games and looks a quality player under the Italian manager.
Kovacic does provide Sarri with another option in midfield, but the form of the English pair could be enough to make a decision on the Croatian’s stay.
Read more: Key Chelsea star to wait till January before deciding his future at club
Barkley certainly looks the part and his form could be key to us not spending on another midfielder in the summer.