According to a recent report by the Daily Star, Chelsea have no plans to secure the services of Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid on a permanent transfer. It is understood that a permanent clause was not part of the initial loan agreement that the two clubs agreed for the Croatian international earlier this year.
Mateo Kovacic’s Hit And Miss Chelsea Career
The 24-year-old has made 12 appearances for the Pensioners this season and has one assist to show for his efforts. However, he has lost his first-team place to Ross Barkley in recent weeks as the English midfielder is currently enjoying a rich vein of form after a string of goal-scoring displays at West London.
The emergence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is also pushing for a place in Sarri’s starting XI, has also added more competition for Kovacic which has thrown his long-term future at Stamford Bridge in doubt. At 24, the Croatian midfielder needs to secure more game time if he wants to improve and take his game to the next level.
What Does Kovacic Add To Sarri’s Team?
The Linz-born talent has not been able to earn regular first-team opportunities at the club level over the past few years. Despite those hurdles, Kovacic is known to be a willing runner in midfield and can dribble with the ball and make some powerful runs behind the opposition defence. He is also physically strong and is an accomplished passer of the ball.
The 24-year-old sensation is also vastly experienced at the highest level as evidenced by his remarkable contributions for Croatia in their fairy-tale run to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Will It Be A Mistake To Not Sign Him On A Permanent Basis?
There is no doubt about Kovacic’s talent, but the fact remains that Chelsea have a plethora of options in midfield which include the likes of Barkley, Jorginho, NGolo Kante, Danny Drinkwater and Loftus-Cheek. Thus, it could be safe to assume that letting the Croatian leave would not be a mistake but would rather be a clever move for all parties.
