Sarri: Chelsea need two players

Maurizio Sarri has refused to comment on Chelsea’s pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain but says the club need two players during this month’s transfer window.

Head coach Sarri wants the Blues to bring in striker Higuain, who played under him at Napoli and is currently on a season-long loan at AC Milan from Juventus.

Asked about Higuain at a media conference on Friday, Sarri reiterated that he does not have control over transfers but that he had made his opinions clear to the Chelsea hierarchy.

“As you know very well, I am not involved in the market. I spoke with the club and the club knows very well my opinion,” he said.

“In my opinion we need two players and then it depends on the club’s decision, I think.

“But I don’t know anything about the market day by day or minute by minute.”

Sarri refused to confirm that the two players he was referring to were a midfielder to replace Cesc Fabregas as well as a new striker.

“As you can understand very well, I cannot tell you where,” he said.

“The club knows very well my opinion. I think at the moment my opinion is important for the club but of course I cannot tell you 100% of my opinion.”

However, Sarri did effectively confirm it by stating that he wants replacements brought in for Fabregas and striker Alvaro Morata should they leave.

He reiterated that Fabregas “needs to go” and suggested the Spaniard, whose expected move to Monaco has not been completed, is not in the right frame of mind to play against Newcastle on Saturday.

Sarri also said: “I need a replacement. But I don’t need an important player like Cesc unhappy here.”

Asked about Morata, who has been linked with a number of clubs, Sarri said: “Of course if Morata goes to another club we need a replacement. That’s normal.

“At the moment, Morata is here. So I think he has to think only about playing because in this moment in Europe there are 300 players involved in the market and they need to think of the next match.”

At his pre-match media conference, Sarri also:

• Said Ruben Loftus-Cheek is out but Morata has returned to training

• Apparently had no knowledge of an offer from Barcelona for Willian

• Confirmed he wants Willian to stay, but added he believes the Brazilian can improve

• Described the January transfer window as “crazy” and suggested it should last a maximum of 10 days

• Accused Bayern Munich of being unprofessional and disrespectful by publicly pursuing Callum Hudson-Odoi.