Chelsea will reportedly make an offer for Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic if Premier League rivals Arsenal refuse to sell Aaron Ramsey.

The Blues were linked with a surprise move for Ramsey at the weekend as talks between the Welshman and the Gunners over a new deal continue to drag on into the new season.

Persuading Arsenal to sell one of their key men remains unlikely, however, even accounting for Ramsey's contract situation in North London, and the Daily Mail claims that Chelsea are now lining up other alternatives.

Kovacic is one of those that ticks all of the boxes for Maurizio Sarri, and Croatia's World Cup star is actively seeking a route out of the Bernabeu in the closing stages of the transfer window.

Manchester City are also rumoured to have shown an interest in Kovacic earlier this summer after missing out on Jorginho to Chelsea.