Chelsea are unsure whether to make Mateo Kovacic’s stay permanent with Maurizio Sarri poised to join Juventus, claims the London Evening Standard.
Sarri pushed for Kovacic to be signed from Real Madrid on a season-long loan deal last summer and the Croatia international was a key player under the Italian.
Chelsea will still be able to sign Kovacic this summer even if they are forced to serve a FIFA-imposed transfer ban due to the fact the 25-year-old was registered as a Chelsea player last season.
The Premier League giants have to get a deal for Kovacic over the line by the end of the month before he officially has to return to Madrid but they are now having second thoughts over the midfielder.
Juventus are expected to name Sarri their new head coach in the coming days and it remains to be seen where Kovacic would fit into his successor’s plans.
Even with Ruben Loftus-Cheek expected to miss the start of last season, Chelsea do have other options to fill Kovacic’s position in central midfield.
Mason Mount and Tiemoue Bakayoko were both loaned out by Chelsea last season but could emerge as first-team players for the west London outfit next term.
Kovacic was the joint most substituted player in the Premier League last season, coming off on the pitch 30 times from his 32 appearances.
