Chelsea have opened talks with Real Madrid to make Mateo Kovacic’s loan switch permanent, reports the London Evening Standard.
Kovacic joined Chelsea on a season-long loan deal in the summer with no option to make the switch on a full-time basis.
Maurizio Sarri’s side have seen enough from Kovacic’s 12 Premier League appearances to know he has a bright future at the club.
There were reports in the summer claiming Madrid valued Kovacic at £80m and Chelsea appreciate it will take a substantial fee to sign the 24-year-old.
Given Modric will turn 34 at the start of next season, there is a chance that Madrid may want to bring Kovacic back to the club.
Kovacic’s future at Chelsea could well decide what happens with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley.
The England internationals are both competing for a starting berth with Kovacic alongside N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.
Kovacic’s departure at the end of the season would certainly boost Barkley and Loftus-Cheek’s chances of forging a successful career at Stamford Bridge.
In just 12 league appearances this season, Kovacic has already failed with twice as many dribbles (8) as he did in 21 league games for Madrid last season (4).
