Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri wants midfielder Mateo Kovacic to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond his loan deal.
Kovacic is on a season-long loan deal from Spanish giants Real Madrid and the deal is set to expire at the end of the season.
The Blues boss has also confirmed his desire to keep on-loan striker Gonzalo Higuain beyond his expiration date.
However, these deals are complicated. Chelsea were handed a transfer ban by FIFA and they have a hearing over the status of the suspension very soon.
"Yes, Kovacic is only on loan, of course, I'd like very much that Kovacic will stay with us," Sarri said to the press at Chelsea's training complex, Cobham Training Centre.
"You know very well, in that position, we have some problems because we only have Jorginho.
"In my opinion, Kovacic could become a very good central midfielder. Of course, he is not a defensive midfielder, but, as you know, in that position, I prefer a very technical player. In the last match, Jorginho touched 161 balls.
"So, for us, it's very important for us to have big quality in that position. Big quality not for the last pass, but big quality in terms of moving the ball.
"No (I don't want to buy another midfielder), I want to try with Kovacic."
ความคิดเห็น