As per one of the latest reports by Sky Sports, Real Madrid’s midfielder Mateo Kovacic is due to undergo medical today to finalise his loan move to Chelsea. The report suggests that Maurizio Sarri’s camp were offered Kovacic on a season-long loan spell, plus £35m, with Thibaut Courtois moving in the opposite direction.
Interestingly, Goal have reported that the deal will not impose any obligation to buy the 24-year-old on the West London based outfit, which implies that the midfielder would head back to Real Madrid at the end of the season. Kovacic may, however, need some time to be match fit, having returned to training earlier this season.
The Croatian international has been mostly used as a fringe player at Real Madrid owing to the availability of the likes of Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric. Nonetheless, Sarri must be very excited to have a player like Kovacic under his command, who is determined to prove himself, as he prepares to commence his first season in the English top flight.
During the World Cup, Kovacic had expressed his desire to leave the arsenal of the Spanish giants to get regular game time and the latest report indicates that the Stamford Bridge is set to be his next destination. However, his move to Chelsea is likely to push Tiemoue Bakayoko further down the pecking order.