Chelsea transfer news: Maurizio Sarri threatens more unrest as shock January deal eyed
CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri wants to reunite with another of his former stars at Napoli in right-back Elseid Hysaj - although his arrival could displace Cesar Azpilicueta.
Azpilicueta has been an ever-present in Sarri’s side this season and has not missed a single minute of Premier League action, wearing the captain’s armband on all 23 occasions.
Yet the report claims Sarri wants to sign Hysaj on loan and is keen for the Chelsea board to back him after speaking out about his current squad recently.
In the aftermath of the Blues’ league defeat to rivals Arsenal, the Italian laid into his players in an astonishing rant.
Choosing to speak in his native tongue, he claimed his squad were “extremely difficult to motivate”.
It is reported that Napoli would prefer to sell Hysaj outright and have put a £45million price-tag on the full-back’s head.
That’s despite him starting just two of their last six Serie A games with Carlo Ancelotti turning to Kevin Malcuit there recently.
Nikola Maksimovic was also preferred at right-back over Hysaj in five of six matches in the Champions League as Napoli crashed out of the competition at the group stage despite losing just one game.
Maurizio Sarri reportedly wants to bring Elseid Hysaj to Chelsea (Image: GETTY)
Elseid Hysaj is no longer automatic first-choice right-back under Carlo Ancelotti (Image: GETTY)
The current back-up right-back options available to Sarri include Victor Moses and Davide Zappacosta.
The Mirror, however, claim Moses will be loaned out this month amid links to Fenerbahce while Zappacosta will be sold having played just 18 minutes of Premier League football under Sarri.
That leaves Chelsea short on cover in that position and Sarri favours bringing in Hysaj, who he worked with at former clubs Napoli and Empoli.
The manager’s chase of the defender comes after bringing Jorginho with him from Naples to Stamford Bridge in the summer, while Sarri is also nearing the loan signing of Gonzalo Higuain, who enjoyed major success under the tactician at Napoli.
The report says Sarri wants the Argentine striker’s arrival secured by mid-day today so that he can face Tottenham in the second-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash tomorrow (7.45pm).
But having threatened to disrupt the dressing room with his public criticisms after the loss at Arsenal, the Mirror say signing Hysaj could create further unrest given Azpilicueta’s squad status.
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Is Cesar Azpilicueta's Chelsea future under threat? (Image: GETTY)
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The versatile defender - arguably one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League over the last few years - could potentially move to centre-back, but Sarri has started David Luiz in all but one league game and Antonio Rudiger has partnered him every time.
With Azpilicueta turning 30 in August, Sarri's plans to bring in Hysaj cast doubt over the popular Spain international's long-term future.
Chelsea are also set to offload Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid if they sign Higuain and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the striker’s situation is dependent on multiple other transfers.
He told the Guillem Balague Transfer Show: "Personal terms have been agreed, his family, his partner are all in Madrid waiting for him but that is pending on a few things.
“One, that Chelsea got Higuain, of course then AC Milan wanted a replacement and [Krzysztof] Piatek of Genoa will be the one.
“But also it depends on Atletico Madrid selling either [Gelson] Gelson or [Nikola] Kalinic.”