Two players Chelsea must sign to signal a statement of intent

Maurizio Sarri has officially taken charge of Chelsea. The Italian must repair the squad to get the Blues back to where they belong, i.e, challenging for league titles.

The Italian is known for a style of play which requires a high work-rate and immense quality on the ball. To achieve the same at Stamford Bridge, he needs a certain genre of players who can fit in and perform well from the word go.

So, here are two players the manager must sign to show a real statement of intent before the start of the season.

Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain has done terrifically well for Juventus, not just in terms of scoring goals but also with his work-rate when it comes to defending from the front and closing the ball down. The Argentine has improved a lot since his arrival at Turin and excelled under the micro-management of Massimiliano Allegri.

With Sarri in need of a striker who can provide goals and possesses high-pressing abilities, Higuain will fit that bill perfectly. In addition, the striker is physically strong to shrug off centre-backs with ease, which will help him upon his entry in the Premier League.

Juventus are mulling the possibility of selling the player after Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in Italy, and Chelsea are keen to offload Alvaro Morata after his nightmarish first season with the club. Hence, it would be perfect for Sarri to plan a move for Higuain and possibly include Morata as a sweetener.

Leonardo Bonucci

The Italian and AC Milan centre-back has been on Chelsea’s radar recently and rightly so. He has the required defensive steel to be a hit in the Premier League, while his long-range passing from a deeper position is something to admire. Chelsea are in dire need of a centre-back who is intelligent with the ball and can start off attacks and to that end, Bonucci seems like the right choice

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Looking at the current Chelsea squad, Gary Cahill and David Luiz are unlikely to play regularly next season. Hence, it will be sensible for the club to sign a high-quality centre-back who can partner either Antonio Rudiger or Andreas Christensen at the heart of the defence. Bonucci will bring in experience, ruggedness and calmness at the back for the Blues, making him a solid option.