---
title: "Chelsea: Blues to open contract talks with Mateo Kovacic"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-premier-league-blues-mateo-kovacic-transfer-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2023-03-01T07:36:14Z"
modified: "2023-03-01T07:36:14Z"
---

# Chelsea: Blues to open contract talks with Mateo Kovacic

**[Chelsea](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-fc-news/) are set to hold talks with midfielder [Mateo Kovacic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/mateo-kovacic/) over an extension on his current deal, according to a new update.**

### The Lowdown: Kovacic’s contract running down

The Croatian has been an excellent servant for the Blues, making [207 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-kovacic/alletore/spieler/51471) overall and often bringing both quality on the ball and work-rate off it to the midfield.

Kovacic is [out of contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-kovacic/profil/spieler/51471) at the end of next season, however, so this summer feels like a key moment in his Chelsea career, in terms needing to either cash in, extend his deal or risk losing him for free next year.

Now, a key update has emerged regarding the 28-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge.

### The Latest: New deal incoming?

According to [*Football Insider correspondent Pete O’Rourke*](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-chelsea-green-light-talks-over-mateo-kovacic-deal/), Chelsea are ready to hand Kovacic a new deal and will ‘open’ talks with him in the near future.

Nailing down his future is seen as a ‘priority’ by the club and same also applies to N’Golo Kante, with an extension thought to be on the cards for him, too.

### The Verdict: Shrewd decision by Chelsea

Offering Kovacic a new deal is an absolute no-brainer for Chelsea, with the [91-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mateo-kovacic/profil/spieler/51471) Croatia international still such a key player when he is fit and firing.

His ball retention in the middle of the park is particularly impressive, with an [84.7%](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/93894/Show/Mateo-Kovacic) pass completion rate in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) this season, but he has also averaged [1.2 tackles](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/93894/Show/Mateo-Kovacic) per game.

At 28, Kovacic is right in his peak years and should remain that way for the foreseeable future, and the thought of losing him this summer is a concerning one.

Thomas Tuchel [hailed](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/tuchel-heaps-praise-on-kovacic-and-shows-respect-to-real-madrid-) him as ‘outstanding’ last year, and assuming he does accept a new deal in west London, he could go on to become one of Chelsea’s best midfielders of the Premier League era.