Chelsea are reportedly ready to launch a transfer swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic after he recently turned down a move to Manchester United.
The Croatia international has not been a regular in his time at the Bernabeu, but has long been regarded as a promising talent after joining the Spanish giants from Inter Milan as a youngster.
MORE: Chelsea receive transfer boost as £30m+ target keen on joining Blues
Chelsea could certainly do with another signing in midfield of his calibre, and Calciomercato claim the Blues are now focusing on signing him in the final few days of the transfer window.
This follows reports of the player snubbing Manchester United in quite brutal style, with Marca claiming the Red Devils had made a €60million bid for him, only for him to decide against a move to Old Trafford because of the club’s playing style under manager Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea’s new manager Maurizio Sarri is certainly a tactician with a very different philosophy, which may prove to be more to Kovacic’s liking.
The Italian tactician got Napoli playing some beautiful attacking football last season as they finished second in Serie A, pushing Juventus all the way in a thrilling title race.
Sarri has already raided his old club for Jorginho to boost Chelsea’s midfield, but Kovacic could be another useful addition after the poor form of last summer’s signings Tiemoue Bakayoko and Danny Drinkwater in that area.