Lazio have appointed Maurizio Sarri as their new manager and the Italian is already getting in the market to get his signings. He reportedly is eyeing his former club, Chelsea, and is ready to get in some players.
Maurzio Sarri was appointed as Chelsea manager in 2018 and introduced his “Sarri-Ball” system. He was able to win the UEFA Europa League but some disappointing results in the Premier League let down his career in London cut down for just one season. But now Sarri, being appointed as Lazio manager, is looking for few players from Chelsea’s 2018 season as he plans his future at Lazio.
Sarri is very much willing to get in Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the Lazio board are also very pleased with the choice. Ruben Loftus-Cheek under Maurizio Sarri was Chelsea’s best player alongside Eden Hazard and Sarri is indeed eager for a reunion. Loftus-Cheek had an impressive 0.7 goal contributions per 90 in the season and looked best suited as a box-to-box midfielder. But the injury at the last stage of the season ruled him out for long and later the Englishman decided to move out on loan to Fulham in the previous season where he never looked back to his best.
Under Sarri, Ruben might get his form back and thus the Italian side are looking for a loan move with an option to buy. However, Thomas Tuchel recently had a lot of praise for the Englishman and it is certain that Chelsea would not let him go before Tuchel testing him in his system in pre-season training. Chelsea fans want it to be a loan move only, without any buying option, if he does not fit in Tuchel’s plan to avoid a situation like Tomori.
Sarri is not just stopping for Loftus-Cheek as he looks on two more Chelsea players. He eyes to solidify his defense with the addition of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Davide Zappacosta. Kepa had his best season for Chelsea under Sarri who brought him to Chelsea making him the club’s most expensive signing. He did well under Sarri and was one of the heroes in their impressive Europa League run. Since then he dropped his form and at the onset of the 2020-21 season, lost his first place to Edouard Mendy. But with Tuchel’s return, the player looks more confident and looks like a great backup alternative.
Although Sarri and Kepa were protagonists of a huge on-pitch bust-up during Sarri’s last phase at Chelsea but it seems that the Italian is over that and ready to reunite with his no.1 choice back then. Chelsea though would have to think before letting the Spaniard go as Caballero has already announced his departure and Chelsea would then need a back-up to Mendy. Also, they would not be able to get something around what they paid back then and would try to hold on to him and maybe sell later potentially when his market value could rise.
Zappacosta’s Chelsea appearances disappeared with Sarri’s departure as since then he has been on two different loan spells in Italy. He definitely is Chelsea’s priority on the selling list and a potential move to Lazio will be very well welcomed by the Chelsea board. But Lazio will have to compete with Atlanta, Napoli, and Fiorentina who all look interested in the full-back and this would allow Chelsea to get a bit more cash from the deal.
It will be interesting to see which Chelsea player(s) Sarri can lure to Italy and do magic with his ‘Sarri-Ball’.
