Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is only Juventus’ SECOND choice despite agreement - Marcotti
CHELSEA’s Maurizio Sarri is only Juventus’ second choice option to become their new long-term manager - even though he is close to being officially appointed at the Serie A giants.
Chelsea: Maurizio Sarri admits he’s unsure about his future
That’s the belief of Italian sports journalist Gabriele Marcotti.
Express Sport understands Sarri is due to be announced as Juventus’ new boss inside the next 48 hours with the Turin club on the hunt for a Massimiliano Allegri replacement.
Sarri flew back to his homeland of Italy on Saturday and reportedly has an agreement on a three-year £6.2million-per-season contract with the Old Lady and has made clear that he wants to leave Chelsea.
Sarri has had an eventful 12 months at Chelsea, taking the Blues within a penalty shoot-out of the Carabao Cup but overseeing a Europa League triumph and a third-placed finish in the Premier League.
That meant that the 51-year-old met the remit for when he joined from Napoli last year but his unpopularity at Stamford Bridge, having failed to develop a relationship with the Chelsea fans, means he is expected to move on imminently.
Yet Marcotti says Juve would prefer to prise Mauricio Pochettino away from Tottenham, with the Argentine having masterminded a run to the Champions League final despite the club’s lack of investment over the last year.
Pochettino’s Spurs lost in Madrid to Liverpool but he is regarded as one of the best tacticians across Europe and is understandably adored in north London for the immense progress he has helped inspire during his time at the club. He has made them a consistent top-four team while this was their first ever European Cup final in their 137-year existence.
Yet because there is no release clause in Pochettino’s contract, some rumours have suggested it would cost in excess of £40million to buy him out of his contract with Spurs.gnings, fine, good little soldier. This summer we need to put the resources forward and I need your backing.’”
Maurizio Sarri is apparently braced to take over at Juventus (Image: GETTY)
Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the Juventus job (Image: GETTY)
I know they’ve got a deal in place with Sarri possibly but I think Pochettino they would view as a better fit
Gabriele Marcotti
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And while it looks increasingly likely Sarri will join Juve, Marcotti believes Pochettino should use the interest in his managerial abilities to force the Spurs board into backing him in the transfer market this summer.
Marcotti told ESPN FC: “I do expect him to be there. The possibility whereby he wouldn’t is, I still think he could be Juventus’ first choice.
“I know they’ve got a deal in place with Sarri possibly but I think Pochettino they would view as a better fit.
“Equally though, I don’t know that Pochettino would necessarily want to go at this stage.
Maurizio Sarri won his first trophy as a manager by winning the Europa League (Image: GETTY)
Gab Marcotti thinks Juve would rather appoint Mauricio Pochettino than Sarri (Image: GETTY)
Tottenham: Pochettino addresses plans for next season
“But if I’m Pochettino, the fact that other clubs want me – I want to turn that to my advantage.
“Not in terms of getting a bigger and better deal at Spurs because he already has a tremendous deal.
“But simply in terms of getting guarantees about the type of investments that are going to be made in the squad over the summer and guarantees over players like Eriksen and Alderweireld who have contractual situations.
“Just assurances from the club. ‘Last summer I went along, nosignings, fine, good little soldier. This summer we need to put the resources forward and I need your backing.’”
According to reports in the Mirror, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is keen to prove the club are willing to back Pochettino's ambitions and have targeted four signings in Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon and Maxi Lopez.