Chelsea will not sign Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal.
That’s according to The Daily Star who say the Blues have no plans to keep the midfielder past this season.
They say the Premier League heavyweights don’t have a permanent clause agreed with Real Madrid.
Kovacic has revealed he’s happy at Chelsea, however, the midfielder refused to commit his long-term future to the Blues.
Chelsea have ‘taken the first steps’ towards signing AC Milan ace Suso.
The Blues started the season impressively under Maurizio Sarri’s stewardship.
However, the former Napoli chief is still expected to bolster his ranks in January as he eyes a title push.
Italian news outlet Tutto Mercato Web claim Sarri isn’t messing around.
It’s suggested he’s already put the wheels in motion to secure Suso’s signature.
The midfielder is already familiar with the Premier League.
Liverpool had him on the books from 2012 until 2015 but he made little impact and was offloaded.
Chelsea will face a battle for his signature though. Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are also sniffing around.
Real Madrid may not appoint Antonio Conte due to the former Chelsea boss’ demands.
That’s the view of former Madrid club president Roman Calderon, who has spoken out on the issues facing the La Liga giants.
But Calderon, who was Los Blancos’ president between 2006 and 2009, has revealed a demand that Conte has made to the club.
“He’s asked for three years and to come in with five people and have hands free for signings and transfers,” Calderon told BBC Radio 5 live’s Football Daily Euro Leagues Show.
“But that’s something the president [Florentino Perez] isn’t willing to accept.
“I don’t think Antonio Conte will be the coach the Bernabeu is expecting.
“He’s like Jose Mourinho – a defensive coach with normally three centre-backs playing counter-attacking football.
“That’s not what Real Madrid expect to see. The president tried this before with Mourinho.
“They didn’t win the Champions League and he left the club in a bad situation.”