Real Madrid have set an asking price of £50m for Chelsea to sign Mateo Kovacic this summer, according to reports in England.
The Blues can secure the Croatian on a permanent basis, despite the club’s transfer ban, because the midfielder is already registered with the team.
However, after being told about Real’s valuation, Chelsea are believed to be close to opting against signing Kovacic.
Fans on Twitter believe that if the Blues do decide to send the 25-year-old back to Madrid, it would be the correct decision:
I’d probably pay €20m but that’s a ridiculous asking price. Chance for mount to step in ?
— Gazzle_Index (@Gazzle_Index) 12 June 2019
Never worth £50m ?
— Steven (@steven_mclaren) 12 June 2019
He should go back if 50m
Madrid are truly mad— Valent (@jnrvalent) 12 June 2019
He’s just average – not worth paying for
— John Hunter (@hunter_ja) 12 June 2019
30m maximum
— Frank Wong (@wong_frank5) 12 June 2019
Marina just playing hardball she will get him for €30m
— Damien (@ClinicalChippy) 12 June 2019
Would have been nice for 20-30 as a rotation player. But he’s never worth more. He has incredible footwork and is very safe on the ball, but outside of that he’s not great at anything.
— Mike (@Mikeey97) 12 June 2019
50? nahhh too much
— E (@heiitse) 12 June 2019
He’s overrated. Glad Mason Mount’s spot is there now. Proper goal scoring threat from midfield
— Tony Akhigbe (@tony_akhigbe) 12 June 2019
Good. Let him go. Good with the ball here and there but doesn’t provide anything.
— Peter Ly (@peterly1) 12 June 2019
With Tiemoue Bakayoko returning from a loan spell at AC Milan, and Mason Mount a candidate for a first-team place next season, keeping Kovacic doesn’t seem to be a top priority.
Manager Maurizio Sarri was one of the player’s leading advocates, but with the Italian poised to join Juventus, the Croatian international could now end up back at the Bernabeu.
Inter Milan are believed to be waiting in the wings to sign the player if Chelsea do decide against keeping him at the club.