Chelsea to get round transfer ban by extending Kovacic's loan from Real Madrid for second year with option to buy for £26m

CHELSEA have reportedly found a way to bypass their transfer ban by extending Mateo Kovacic's deal from Real Madrid.

The Croatian, 24, has struggled to make much of an impression at Stamford Bridge since joining from Los Blancos last summer on a loan.

Although Maurizio Sarri has put his faith in Kovacic, he has failed to win over the Blues faithful.

If the Blues' transfer embargo stands, they could be prevented from registering any new players until January 2020.

But according to the Daily Star, extending Kovacic's loan deal could circumvent this, although there may be an obligatory option to buy the midfielder for £26million, with Real supposedly demanding this is signed off before May 5.

But Sarri, 60, has admitted he would rather Kovacic stays and thinks he could be key to his long term plans.

Last month, he said: "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.

“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.”

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