Maurizio Sarri
It seems like it’s only a matter of time before Chelsea announce the imminent arrival of Maurizio Sarri and with him, Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola is also expected to join the club. Current Chelsea manager Antonio Conte won the Premier League title in his first year with the club but he was unable to replicate the form this time around.
The Italian did manage to win the FA Cup final against Manchester United, yet there are still concerns over his future. Conte has also recorded the most win ratio, along with Pep Guardiola in the Premier League.
Chelsea ultimately finished 5th, to miss out on a Champions League spot. Sarri is now expected to come in and make wholesale changes at the club. If Conte does depart, which seems very likely at this point, we could see a number of Chelsea stars leave the club.
One such name that has been linked with a move away is Eden Hazard. The Belgian has been priceless for the Blues and the Blues will have to make a top quality signing to replace the winger. Here we take a look at three signings that Sarri and Zola could make to turn this Chelsea side into title contenders.
The Welsh Wizard was the star in Kiev, scoring 2 goals against Liverpool in the Champions League final. The former Tottenham Hotspur man has found it hard to nail down a spot in the Madrid squad and could be open to a move elsewhere.
If Hazard does decide to leave the Bridge, Gareth Bale would be a perfect replacement for the Belgian. Bale made 20 appearances in the league this season, scoring 16 goals and 2 assists in the process. Those are very impressive numbers for someone who plays a limited role in the squad.
Bale also has tons of experience in the Premier League, as he has scored 42 goals in 146 appearances for the Lilywhites. He would be a massive signing for the London club.
The Belgian made 35 appearances in the league this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 6 assists. He has also been in fine form at the World Cup, scoring an incredible volley against Panama. Alvaro Morata has been far from his usual self and Mertens could be the right man to take his spot. The little Belgian has flourished in his newfound striker role.
If Chelsea can hold onto Eden Hazard, that frontline would look terrifyingly strong. Sarri and Mertens also share a close relationship, with the coach being a mentor figure to the player. He has helped Mertens unleash his true potential over the last two years. This could tempt the 31-year-old to make the move. With Sarri, he could take his career to the next level.
Another one of Sarri’s Napoli prospects, Jorginho was one of the best defensive midfielders this season in the Serie A. He’s got brilliant control on the ball and exceptional passing ability. In 33 appearances, the midfielder averaged 1.9 tackles per game.
He will be a addition for the Blues. Chelsea haven’t really been able to replace Nemanja Matic, who left for Manchester United. New signing Bakayoko failed to make a real impact, and Chelsea could really use a defensive midfielder.
Manchester City are said to be hot on the player’s heels, seeking a move since the start of the summer. But once again, Sarri’s influence could help make a move happen.
