Maurizio Sarri never stops reminding us that he’s not in charge of transfers, but that hasn’t stopped him beginning to give his opinions on what the club is doing in January.
The Italian coach was talking about Cesc Fabregas’ potential move to Monaco, and he pointed out that if the Spaniard goes, the club will need a replacement for him:
Sarri says Cesc Fabregas had cramp in his calf towards the end of Saturday's game and will be assessed in training today and tomorrow. He adds that if Cesc does leave, we need a replacement. #TOTCHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 7, 2019
Sarri on Cagliari's Barella being linked with a move to Chelsea: 💬 "If Cesc will go, of course, we need a replacement. Now with the midfielders, we are in trouble. The situation with Loftus-Cheek, I don't know if it is serious or not, without Fabregas we are five." #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) January 7, 2019
The club has been linked with plenty of targets, and the name of Nicolo Barella was mentioned as a potential Cesc replacement. Sarri didn’t shoot that idea down, but returned to his blanket stance of “I don’t talk about other clubs’ players.”
One thing we can glean from the pressure he is putting on to find a replacement is that he’s not likely to be up for signing a new centre-mid to arrive in the summer, as some have suggested might happen with Barella.
He’s now said, in no uncertain terms, that the Spaniard would have to be replaced – and he doesn’t mean in six months.
