Sarri Demands For Fabregas Replacement

By Nigel Philips

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri still expects the club to make one more midfield reinforcement before the January transfer window slams shut on Thursday.

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas departed Stamford Bridge for Monaco a couple of weeks ago with the club yet to find a replacement.

Zenith Saint Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes was rumored to be on his way to Stamford Bridge, but Paris Saint-Germain moved ahead of the Blues to sign the Argentine midfielder in a £35m deal.

Chelsea have already brought in Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus for the departed Alvaro Morata,while Christian Pulisic is expected to arrive from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but are yet to fill the void left by Fabregas’ departure.

18-year-old defender Nathan Ampadu was deployed in midfield against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup last Sunday as Jorginho was given a rest, but Sarri was unimpressed by the Welsh international’s performance and has called on the club to find a solution.

Sarri has also hinted that Mateo Kovacic will be deployed in defensive midfield position should the club fail to land his targets.

"You know my opinion; I thought it was important to have two players," Sarri told a news conference on Tuesday.

"One has arrived. I am waiting for another. "If he arrived, I will be very happy. But I won't be too worried. I am happy to play with these players."

"Ampadu didn't play very well in that position [against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday], but he is very young," the Blues boss said. "It is a new position.

"In the second half, we tried that with Mateo and he can move the ball very fast and clean. We have to see if he can play there in a defensive match, then we can try."