Chelsea are reportedly hoping to agree on a new contract with 28-year-old Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
A report from Football Insider claims that Chelsea have made it a priority to keep Mateo Kovacic at the club beyond this season. And they are ready to open new contract talks with the 28-year-old soon.
The report further states that renewing the contract of midfielder N’Golo Kante is also a priority for the Premier League giants. While Kante will be a free agent at the end of the season, Kovacic is into the final 18 months of his contract.
The Croatian international has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in recent weeks. And Chelsea simply cannot afford to lose him. The 28-year-old has been an exceptional player for Chelsea since joining the club from Real Madrid. And the Blues need to hold on to him at all costs.
Chelsea are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements, with Mateo Kovacic and Enzo Fernandez the only reliable options at their disposal right now. Kante has had major availability issues, while the likes of Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have not been able to perform consistently.
The departure of Kovacic will weaken the squad significantly and Chelsea simply cannot afford to be in that situation. The Croatian international has won the UEFA Champions League (UCL), Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge. And Chelsea will need him if they want to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
It remains to be seen whether they can convince the 28-year-old to sign a new contract with them in the coming months. Kovacic is undoubtedly a valued member of the Chelsea first team, and he is a regular starter for Graham Potter. If the Blues can offer him a lucrative new contract, there is no reason for him to push for a move away from the club.
That said, Chelsea are likely to miss out on UCL qualification next season. And that could affect the futures of key players. A player of Kovacic’s caliber will want to compete in the Champions League. And if the Blues miss out on a top-four finish, he could consider his future at the London club.
