Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has admitted that he would like to keep Mateo Kovacic at Stamford Bridge beyond his current one-year loan deal.
Kovacic is one of Europe’s most highly-rated young midfielders and joined Chelsea on a season-long loan from Spanish giants Real Madrid on transfer deadline day.
The Croatia international impressed when he came on as a second-half substitute during the Blues 3-2 victory over Arsenal last weekend, although Sarri confirmed that he still does not think the 24-year-old is quite ready to handle a full 90 minutes of Premier League action.
”I think Mateo and Eden played very well last 30 minutes. I think at that moment the intensity of the match was going down. I think like Eden, he’s only ready to play for 60 minutes,’’ Sarri told the press ahead of his sides away trip to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
Sarri also confirmed that he rates Kovacic highly and is hopeful that he will sign permanently for Chelsea.
”It’s too early to say. I like him and hopefully, he could stay here,’’ he added.