Chelsea face a two-window transfer ban – and it could aid Tottenham.
Chelsea face a two-window transfer ban, with FIFA ruling that the Blues broke rules surrounding young players, as reported by BBC Sport.
Chelsea will be allowed to appeal the ruling, which is penalising the Blues for allegedly falsifying registration dates of players and making payments to families for first refusal on their sons.
As things stand, Chelsea won’t be able to sign players this coming summer or next January, leaving loanees like Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain in limbo.
Kovacic is a particularly fascinating case, as Spanish newspaper AS reported in December that Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to land the Croatian at the end of the campaign.
Real Madrid will seemingly let him go, but with Chelsea unable to pursue a permanent deal as things stand, Tottenham may now become favourites for his signature.
The 24-year-old hasn’t quite lived up to expectations with Chelsea, though he has been cast in a role where he has to be the most offensively-minded, and he has never really been much of a goalscorer.
Kovacic can though control possession and dribble forward, two attributes which made Mousa Dembele so important to Tottenham before his January move to China.
Kovacic could step into that role at Spurs and have more success than his role at Chelsea, whilst the likes of Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka would surely recommend a move to Spurs too.
Spurs will no doubt have a host of midfielders in mind, and with Kovacic allegedly one of them, Mauricio Pochettino’s side may just be favourites to land him should Chelsea’s ban stand.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
