Reports currently are that there is no buy clause on Kovacic.

Wasn't it reported RLC was on his way to Crystal Palace for another season?

21 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

I would expect RLC and Bakayoko to go on loans. I would then expect Barkley and Fabregas to be on the bench.

This would be the best outcome.

I love Fabregas, I really do.  But the guy has zero pace, and is so easily bypassed - it happens all the time.  From an attacking stance, he's great, for everything else games pass him by.  I think it's time to move on from him, imo.

2 minutes ago, EdgarAllanPoe said:

I love Fabregas, I really do.  But the guy has zero pace, and is so easily bypassed - it happens all the time.  From an attacking stance, he's great, for everything else games pass him by.  I think it's time to move on from him, imo.

Yea, I would agree with this, if anything he has got slower since he joined us. His creative play doesn’t seem as good as it was and he’s a liability from a defesive standpoint, I appreciate what he’s done, but surely his last season 

I think Fab is only kept around for his homegrown status and the fact that he’d be hard to move with the wages he’s on.

24 minutes ago, EdgarAllanPoe said:

I love Fabregas, I really do.  But the guy has zero pace, and is so easily bypassed - it happens all the time.  From an attacking stance, he's great, for everything else games pass him by.  I think it's time to move on from him, imo.

I would move Drinkwater and Bakayoko on before even thinking about moving Fabregas on. If we are looking for goals, i can't think of anybody better to bring on the pitch. He would create so many goals.

25 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I would move Drinkwater and Bakayoko on before even thinking about moving Fabregas on. If we are looking for goals, i can't think of anybody better to bring on the pitch. He would create so many goals.

Agree with this, but Fab can surely only be a 20 minute playe this season, when the opposition are knackered

We have tonight agreed terms with Real Madrid for the transfer of Thibaut Courtois, subject to the agreement of personal terms and a medical. As part of the deal, Mateo Kovacic will join Chelsea on a season-long loan.  - Chelsea FC twitter.

No option to buy apparently.

11 minutes ago, Zeta said:

No option to buy apparently.

what a bummer

14 minutes ago, Zeta said:

No option to buy apparently.

Says who?

Most Spanish sources seem to be suggesting we don’t have an option to buy which is a real shame, but nonetheless this is an excellent signing. I think he will really suit the premier league and expect him to start alongside Kante and Jorginho.

Hopefully the fact that this is a loan rather than an outright purchase will mean that we can continue to develop RLC and Barkley in the sense that if Kovacic isn’t performing (can’t see him not doing) we don’t feel obliged to stick with him in the same way we have Bakayoko. 

If he does well here then surely he'll have a say in what club he'll want to stay at, look at Courtois. 

Player power always wins.

We seem to have a solid business relationship with Real Madrid, so if he does well here and wants a permanent move, I think we will get it done regardless of whether there is a buy option or not.

Madrid saving face by not announcing the option to buy me thinks. 

Woah woah woah

No option to buy then I don't want him. Why should we develop him just so he can go back to Real Madrid and give them the benefits?

Edited August 8, 20187 yr by Fatty_Speeding

2 minutes ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

Woah woah woah

No option to buy then I don't want him. Why should we develop him just so he can go back to Real Madrid and give them the benefits?

Because it helps us this season it gives us a quality midfielder for free 

2 minutes ago, Cone said:

Because it helps us this season it gives us a quality midfielder for free 

Temporarily, then we're bummed again next season.

1 minute ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

Temporarily, then we're bummed again next season.

Kovacic seems to be really pissed with Real Madrid at the moment, even tried to force a transfer instead of loan to us but Real Madrid refused.

After a stellar season at Chelsea playing wonderful football with Hazard, how is he going to feel coming back to Madrid having to compete with prima donna’s?

If he does well this season then I’m sure he will tell Real he doesn’t want to go back.

3 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Kovacic seems to be really pissed with Real Madrid at the moment, even tried to force a transfer instead of loan to us but Real Madrid refused.

After a stellar season at Chelsea playing wonderful football with Hazard, how is he going to feel coming back to Madrid having to compete with prima donna’s?

If he does well this season then I’m sure he will tell Real he doesn’t want to go back.

And they'll quote us £100m, as opposed to the £50m we could have negotiated now. It's a horrible deal alone for the simple fact that we're now Real Madrid's feeder club.

2 minutes ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

And they'll quote us £100m, as opposed to the £50m we could have negotiated now. It's a horrible deal alone for the simple fact that we're now Real Madrid's feeder club.

Courtoius was going one way or another we have got a quality midfielder for free even if it's for one season. 

Sarri wanted a midfielder and we had to replace courtoius with this deal we can afford a  highly rated keeper  instead of some average quality one 

I hope this doesn't mean Barkley isn't getting much play time, because I think that he was having a good preseason and would be a good player for us this season. RLC will probably go on loan.

Great signing.

 

At his best, Kovacic plays with shades of Toure or Vieria, or Essien at his best.

16 minutes ago, Cone said:

Courtoius was going one way or another we have got a quality midfielder for free even if it's for one season. 

Sarri wanted a midfielder and we had to replace courtoius with this deal we can afford a  highly rated keeper  instead of some average quality one 

Maybe, I'm just thinking ahead to next May when losing him will be a feel like a punch in the teeth and we'll be cursing that we didn't wrangle a buy clause in.

Why does anyone loan anyone ever