Exclusive: Chelsea change stance on midfielder after Liverpool links with spectacular star now ‘more likely to stay’

Links between Liverpool and a Chelsea midfielder have “nothing significant” behind them, TEAMtalk has been told, with a player capable of the spectacular now in line to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea and Liverpool have both encountered some difficulties this season, meaning they might make changes in the summer. Both clubs, coincidentally, are thinking about evolving their respective midfield departments.

As a result, there have been some indications that players in that territory could move between the clubs. For example, Chelsea academy graduate Mason Mount could become a solution for Liverpool.

Another current Chelsea midfielder to have been linked with Liverpool recently is Mateo Kovacic. The Croatia international has been suggested as a cheaper alternative to Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, whom the Reds are more serious about signing than the Blues.

It was earlier revealed to TEAMtalk by insider Ben Jacobs that Liverpool still have “a large amount of confidence” that they can win the race for Bellingham.

Following up the information, Jacobs has also been able to play down the rumours about Kovacic ending up at Liverpool. In fact, Chelsea are aiming to find an agreement with him about extending his stint in west London.

Chelsea trying to agree Kovacic commitment

Jacobs said: “I don’t think there’s too much in the Kovacic links at this point. Liverpool will have other preferences and priorities.

“But the other thing about Kovacic, even if Liverpool did choose to explore that – and there’s nothing significant at this stage, I think you’d be looking more of a player like Wolves’ Matheus Nunes as seriously on their radar, but if they did – or any other club wants to pursue Kovacic, then you have to bear in mind that Chelsea have kind of changed their position a little bit because they’ve got rid of Jorginho and they realised that Kovacic has got leadership and can also chip in with the odd goal. And they’re always spectacular goals by the way.

“So now Chelsea’s position on Kovacic has changed from maybe six months ago. And their preference would be to try and agree something if they can, that keeps him at the football club.

“So whereas maybe towards the end of last year, we were talking about Kovacic as being a player more likely to leave than stay, now I think Kovacic is, arguably, more likely to stay than to leave.”

Kovacic’s contract with Chelsea is due to expire at the end of next season. That is why they need to try and tie him down for longer.

The 28-year-old has been with them for five seasons now after joining from Real Madrid. During that time, he has made more than 200 appearances for the Blues. He has also previously played for Dinamo Zagreb and Inter Milan.

If Chelsea can renew his contract, they would likely be securing his services for the remainder of his prime years.

In another exclusive, Jacobs has also told us that Pep Guardiola wants to sign a Chelsea player this summer to replace someone whose Manchester City career may well be over.