Chelsea have been told by club legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink not to pursue the permanent signing of on-loan midfielder Mateo Kovacic. Kovacic was signed in the summer in the dying moments as part of the deal that took Belgium stopper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid.
Hasselbaink is of the opinion that Kovacic is not the type of midfielder for Sarri-ball and that the Blues already have Jorginho and Kante who can play in his preferred position as a defensive midfielder.
The former Middlesbrough forward is of the opinion that club would be better served signing a creative midfielder that can play defence-splitting passes and provide assists. Hasselbaink is right when he says that the Blues need a creative midfielder as Chelsea have a workmanlike midfield which has also been echoed by former Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge.
The Stamford Bridge outfit have been largely dependent on Eden Hazard for creativity and the club needs to work on getting a creative player as the third man in the midfield. Sarri has tried using Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley and Kovacic in this role but they have all flattered to deceive.
With the transfer ban currently hanging over the club, the Blues would be unable to sign Kovacic anyway. However, if the club can overturn or delay the ban the €45 million been asked by Real Madrid for his services is a bargain for a player of his calibre.
It would be interesting to see what the summer holds for the player and the club. Chelsea are currently preparing to face Slavia Prague in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday. The London club holds a 1-0 advantage going into the tie.