Mateo Kovacic realises Thomas Tuchel Chelsea 'wonderkid' claim as Jorginho transfer future clear

This time last year the jury was very in much out on Mateo Kovacic's time at Stamford Bridge.

The Croatian, although showing glimpses of his potential and being well regarded for his aesthetically pleasing technique, was questioned over his actual impact on the team.

Coming into his peak years and with the desire to see fresh legs injected into the squad, Kovacic's place felt less secure than that of N'Golo Kante and Jorginho, who both started the Champions League final.

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Chelsea's only midfield addition in the summer was Saul Niguez. This deadline day loan has failed to improve Thomas Tuchel's options, and with Ruben Loftus-Cheek still remaining a sporadic presence, Kovacic needed to step up.

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Even if the need for midfield reinforcement remains, Kovacic should be regarded as Chelsea's most improved player for the 2021/22 campaign.

The main leap forward has been the sense of a switch between style and substance. No longer do we see Kovacic dribble round in circles before laying the ball back to a teammate from where he started.

There has been a greater sense of urgency when receiving the ball this season, looking for a quick pass to progress