---
title: "Chelsea heading for a setback with Mateo Kovacic"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2022/11/29/chelsea-heading-for-setback-over-50m-world-cup-star-mateo-kovacic-january-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Samuel Slaney"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2022-11-29T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-11-29T07:00:00Z"
---

# Chelsea heading for a setback with Mateo Kovacic

Chelsea may be heading for a setback with Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who is said to be considering his future at the club.

**What’s the word?**

That is according to journalist [Simon Phillips](https://twitter.com/siphillipssport), who understands that the World Cup star is now exploring other options after failing to agree a new deal before heading to Qatar.

As it stands, the club are at risk of losing the 28-year-old for free at the end of next season, with his existing deal [set to expire in the summer of 2024.](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-kovacic/profil/spieler/51471)

Speaking to [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88087742-chelsea-edouard-mendy-transfer-rumours), Phillips said: *“Chelsea wanted to get him signed before the World Cup, but that didn’t happen. At the moment, Kovacic and his people are exploring other options. They’re not 100% sure if they want to extend with Chelsea.”*

**A big loss**

With an average of [57.2 accurate passes per 90](https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/season/17664/players/accurate_pass/team/8455/chelsea-players), Kovacic is Chelsea’s most active midfield asset for this metric and brings a different dimension to the Chelsea midfield with his average of [2.6 accurate long balls per game](https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/season/17664/players/accurate_long_balls/team/8455) a small snippet of his unique skillset.

Besides this, his well-roundedness makes him a weapon in the out-of-possession phase.

The World Cup star’s ability to win the ball back in the midfield third, having achieved this at an [average of four times a game](https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/47/stats/season/17664/players/poss_won_att_3rd/team/8455) this season, gives Chelsea the means to rely on their rest defence and spring into a counterattack.

The midfielder’s game across both phases means he can be instrumental for the side at times, so the Blues will not want to be without his services.