Maurizio Sarri has confirmed he wants Chelsea to sign Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
Croatia international Kovacic joined the Premier League club on a season-long loan last summer and has made 46 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.
The midfielder’s performances have led to mixed reviews from Chelsea fans but Sarri says he wants the Croat to turn his loan stint into a permanent transfer.
‘I want to try with Kovacic. He is only on loan, of course, but I’d like very much that Kovacic will stay with us,’ the Italian manager said.
‘You know very well that, in that position, we have some problems because we have only Jorginho. In my opinion, Kovacic could become a very good central midfielder.
‘Of course, he is not a defensive midfielder (at the moment) but, as you know, in that position I prefer a very technical player.
‘In the last match, Jorginho touched 161 balls. So, for us, it’s very important for us to have big quality in that position. Big quality not for the last pass, but big quality in terms of moving the ball.’
Chelsea, who are currently fifth in the Premier League, face London rivals West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.
Asked whether the Blues must win every game to finish in the top four, Sarri responded: ‘No, because I think the last part of the season will be really very difficult for every team.
‘We have only to fight and to think about our matches, and then I think we have to fight until the last minutes of the last match. But without looking at the other results, I think.’
Beating West Ham would see Chelsea climb to third in the Premier League, although Arsenal and Tottenham will be able to move back above the Blues with their games in hand.
Just three days after the West Ham fixture, Chelsea travel to the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague in the Europa League quarter-final.
