Chelsea are set to sign Real Madrid‘s wantaway midfielder Mateo Kovacic on loan, according to Marca.

The 24-year-old Croatian World Cup star is seeking a move from the Bernabeu this summer in the hope of more first-team football, despite the fact new Los Blancos boss Julen Lopetegui wants to keep him at the club.

Manchester United have also been linked with Kovacic but it now appears the Stamford Bridge club are leading the race to clinch his signature ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Meanwhile, it has been suggested that this deal could act as a sweetener between the two clubs, given Thibaut Courtois is likely to head in the opposite direction.