Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has declared they want to buy outright on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

Chelsea will only be able to acquire him if their appeal to FIFA against a two-window transfer ban, which is being heard on Thursday, results in the punishment being overturned or delayed.

Kovacic's form has generated mixed reviews from pundits and the club's fans, but Sarri feels he has a lot to offer and can compete with Jorginho for the central midfield role.

Significantly he ruled out looking for any other player for the role in the market, saying: “No, 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.

“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."