Real Madrid are reportedly planning to offload Mateo Kovacic on a permanent basis during the January transfer window.
Kovacic is currently on a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he has made 17 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
Spanish outlet AS reports that Madrid will push Chelsea to make that loan switch permanent, having been unimpressed with the Croatia international's behaviour during the summer.
Los Blancos are thought to be unhappy with Kovacic's attempts to engineer an exit and no longer see the midfielder's long-term future at the Bernabeu.
Chelsea's London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in the 24-year-old and could look to hijack the deal in January as Mauricio Pochettino aims to bolster his squad.
Kovacic joined Madrid from Inter Milan in 2015 and has made 110 appearances for the club across all competitions.
Barney Corkhill
