Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Chelsea transfer news: Maurizio Sarri wants ONE signing after Gonzalo Higuain joins
CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri wants to sign a midfielder after landing Gonzalo Higuain.
Arsenal vs Chelsea: Premier League clash preview
Maurizio Sarri made the powerful Argentina international his top target and urged transfer guru Marina Granovskaia to secure his services.
Sarri is close to getting his man and a medical is pencilled this weekend.
However, according to The Guardian, Sarri is already planning his next signing.
They say the Chelsea boss is desperate to land a midfielder after Higuain joins.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is desperate to snare Gonzalo Higuain
The Blues are keen on Zenit star Leandro Paredes after Cagliari ruled out a move for Nicolo Barella.
Sarri and Higuain enjoyed a stunning stint together at Napoli and get on well.
Higuain, 31, bagged 91 goals in 146 games during Sarri’s tenure at the Serie A giants.
The experienced target man is currently on loan at AC Milan from Juventus.
Negotiating with both clubs has meant double the aggravation for Chelsea chiefs with Sarri pushing for his arrival.
The Blues have reportedly agreed to take over Higuain’s loan at Milan on the same terms.
The west Londoners will then have a commitment to buy him in the summer.
Juve are desperate to get Higuain off the wage bill after signing Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.
The Portuguese superstar has a mammoth wage and the reigning Serie A champions need to manage their balance sheet.
Juve paid Napoli a hefty £80m for Higuain in 2016 and, although they won’t manage a return on their investment, club bean counters want to recoup as much cash as possible.
Speaking ahead of today’s clash with Arsenal, Sarri explained that he has given Granovskaia a clear brief on how he wants the squad improving.
“Marina knows my opinion on how to improve the team,” he said.
“I am confident because I know Marina is working very hard, but I don’t know the market at all.
“I want to be focused on the matches.
“So I don’t call her every evening, otherwise I’d spend all my mental energy on the market.”
Chelsea have offloaded Cesc Fabregas to Monaco.
Sarri insists he now expects a suitable.
“We need a replacement [for Fabregas], in my opinion,” he added.
“Marina knows very well my opinion.
“So I’m not frustrated at the moment.”