Sarri want Chelsea board to sign Elseid Hysaj after completing Higuain deal
If reports are to be believed, Maurizio Sarri has told the Chelsea board to sign Napoli right-back Elseid Hysaj after completing the move for Gonzalo Higuain.
Higuain, who has struggled on his loan spell at AC Milan, is likely to reunite with his former Napoli manager Sarri at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea likely to sign the 31-year-old on a loan agreement till the end of the season with an option to buy.
The Blues will be hoping to complete the deal and register the player before 12 p.m on Wednesday to have him available for use in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Spurs.
And Sarri, who criticised the players for lack of mental aggressiveness following the club’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal, has set his sights on another player whom he managed at Napoli.
Reports claim that Sarri is ready to axe fan favourite Cesar Azpilicueta from the first-team and replace him with Elseid Hysaj.
Hysaj has slipped down the pecking order at Napoli under Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea want the defender on loan, although the Serie A club has indicated that they want to sell the Albanian permanently for £45 million.
Hysaj’s agent has confirmed that Sarri is keen on signing his client, claiming that the Italian manager wanted him the summer.
‘I had a meeting for about four hours with Ancelotti and (Napoli director of sports Cristiano) Giuntoli this week,’ Mario Giuffredi told Rai Sport earlier this month.
‘We clarified the situation regarding the player and the lack of playing time. Ancelotti gave me his reasons, which I share fully, because he works with the player every day and knows his condition.
‘The important thing is hearing that Ancelotti respects Hysaj. He confirmed his faith in him.”
‘Of course, the January transfer window is always to be evaluated and there has been talk of Chelsea, for example.
‘If there are situations that are mutually advantageous, then we’d evaluate them. If nothing happens in January, then we’ll discuss a contract extension.’
