Chelsea ‘will try again’ to get Mateo Kovacic to sign a new contract with the Premier League club, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Opposing stances

The Croatian has now entered the final 18 months of his contract in west London, and Todd Boehly reportedly wants to hold talks with him after the World Cup to discuss extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.

However, the 28-year-old is believed to be exploring other options as a result of him and his representatives being unsure if they want remain in the capital beyond his contract’s expiry date.

The Latest: Phillips’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips stated that Chelsea will use the planned negotiations to try and convince Kovacic to put pen to paper on fresh terms, alongside Mason Mount who finds himself in a similar position.

He said: “Chelsea will try again as with Mason Mount after the World Cup and speak with Kovacic and his people again and try and see where his head is at then and see if they can convince him to sign a new deal.

“But at the moment, he’s very much in the thinking that he might consider his options.”

The Verdict: Tie him down

Kovacic has been a key component at Chelsea since Graham Potter’s arrival, and having once been likened to a ‘Formula One car’ by Jurgen Klopp, the Blues boss should do everything that he can to keep the Croatian.

The 28-year-old has provided 14 assists and netted five goals during his time with Chelsea and ranks in the 98th percentile for progressive passes among positional peers in Europe's top five leagues over the course of the last year.

Kovacic’s impact in the middle of the park can’t be underestimated, and his manager will no doubt be hoping that the midfielder changes his mind and deduce that his long-term future belongs at Stamford Bridge.