Chelsea can still sign Kovacic & Higuain for next season despite transfer ban

Chelsea can still sign Kovacic & Higuain for next season despite transfer ban

Chelsea can sign both Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain despite the club’s transfer ban but have only just begun talks with the Croatia midfielder, Goal understands.

The Blues are confident that they have the ability to hold on to both loan stars without contravening their FIFA-imposed embargo on bringing in new players, with football’s governing body having turned down the Premier League outfit’s appeal to delay the ban.

Chelsea have taken the next step in trying to overturn and suspend the sanction by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and could hear back shortly before the Europa League final in May 29.

They have, however, seen the Premier League transfer window reopen on Thursday without the ability to sign players.

Maurizio Sarri wants to retain both Kovacic and Higuain – despite concerns over the latter’s form – and the pair are understood to be keen on staying having fallen out of favour at their parent clubs.

Real Madrid are prepared to sell Kovacic to help raise funds for a summer overhaul following a disappointing season by their own high standards, while Juventus see no future for Higuain in Turin.

In Kovacic’s case, a move is already being explored and a fee could be agreed to convert his current loan into a permanent deal without a need for Chelsea to re-register the player on the electronic TMS system used to process transfers.

Source: Goal