Chelsea brought in Mateo Kovacic on loan last season from Real Madrid and last month they made the deal permanent by signing him for £40 million.
Last season, Mateo Kovacic was used in tandem with Ross Barkley in central midfield and it looks like news boss Frank Lampard feels the former Madrid man can be a valuable asset to the club during the 2019-20 season.
The Blues released a statement announcing the signing of Mateo Kovacic and it read: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce we have completed the permanent signing of Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid.”
While fans are happy that Mateo Kovacic will be permanently staying at the club but pundit Paul Merson feels that the Blues have been trapped into this signing due to the transfer ban on them this summer.
“Do you think (Matteo) Kovacic would have signed for Chelsea without there being a transfer embargo?” Merson asked.
“I don’t think he scored a goal and they’ve paid upwards of £40m. They’ve signed him because they need another body, surely?
“It’s not all about this year, it’s a three-year contract, and as a Chelsea fan it feels like a good opportunity to steadily, steadily bring these players through. One at a time, not bringing a four or five and then suddenly Chelsea are a mid-table team.
“It’s going to be hard. It’s such a jump from Derby to Chelsea(for Lampard), it’s unbelievable. You are training superstars and have to get them motivated. It’s a different job.
“At Derby, they would have looked at him with an aura, it won’t be like that at Chelsea.”
Mateo Kovacic was by no means the first choice in central midfield for Maurizio Sarri last week and we are predicting a repeat of the same this season too.
Frank Lampard might very well tilt in favour of Ross Barkley instead of the former Real Madrid man given that the England international is a bit more physical and can keep hold of the ball.
