Chelsea have been handed a huge transfer boost as reports in Spain claim Mateo Kovacic is looking increasingly likely to head for the Real Madrid exit door.
The Croatia international already struggled for playing time last season, and in pre-season so far it looks like youngster Dani Ceballos is impressing manager Julen Lopetegui, suggesting at more of a key role in the first-team.
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According to Don Balon, this development sees Kovacic looking ever closer to the Bernabeu exit this summer, which should be encouraging news for Chelsea.
It remains to be seen if it could also be of interest to Manchester City, who were also linked with Kovacic earlier this summer by Sky Sports, though that report claimed the Premier League champions were put off by his £80million price tag.
Don Balon have previously linked Chelsea with an interest in the 24-year-old, while Calciomercato also link them with Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as a target in what has been a problem position in central midfield.
Though CFC have already signed Jorginho this summer, another big name in that position could be useful after last year’s flurry of flops in the form of Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley coming in after the bizarre decision to sell Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.