Chelsea is going all in on their Italian connection for Maurizio Sarri
By Travis Tyler
Chelsea has a long relationship with Italians, especially Italian managers. The Blues are currently going all in on that connection.
It started in the 90’s and flourished from there. Chelsea has, for most of the last two decades, had a special bond with Serie A. From players to managers, some of Chelsea’s greatest successes have come with Italians on board.
The Blues have rarely gone all in on that connection for their manager. They flirted with the notion under Antonio Conte. Many of Conte’s targets were Serie A players or had been at one point. Chelsea acquired a few, but for the most part only dipped their toes in the Serie A waters.
Perhaps the reluctance under Conte came from the stereotype of Serie A players struggling in the Premier League. Chelsea has been on the wrong end of several of those deals. But players like Mohammed Salah have put to bed that shallow notion and now the Blues seem willing to go all in on their Italian connection for Maurizio Sarri.
It does make sense as to why Sarri would suggest players out of Italy. After all, he has spent his entire career there. And after four years in Serie A, he will have gained a good grasp on what players are legit and which are not.
The ball started rolling with the Jorginho transfer. Deep lying play makers are a rare thing in the Premier League, but Sarri’s tactics rely on one. But Jorginho is only the start.
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Chelsea has been linked strongly to Daniele Rugani and Gonzalo Higuain over the recent weeks. Both have played under Sarri previously. Rugani has always been in Serie A and Higuain became a man reborn in the league. Alfredo Pedulla, who has become something of an Italian poet oracle for Chelsea fans over the Sarri saga, believes both are on the verge of a transfer to Chelsea.
Pedulla also believes that an Alvaro Morata and Gianluigi Donnarumma swap could be on the table. And while that would be less than ideal, it would clear space for Higuain and give Chelsea their Thibaut Courtois replacement.
If those deals go through, it will mean that four of the four first team transfers all came out of Serie A. In the past, many would have balked at such a notion. But nowadays, under an Italian manager, there is a sense that it is the right way to go.
Sarri did mention in his opening press conference that he was uninterested in the transfer market. So it could be that these targets are more suggestions than requests. Therefore, they are more gifts than orders. Chelsea wants Sarri to feel comfortable and is willing to bring in the players to do it.
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The coming weeks will show how strong the connection between Chelsea and Serie A truly is. The Blues need more rework than reinforcement, but finding the right players and refreshing the player pool is key to any club. The Blues are going all in on Serie A for Sarri in the hopes that it will create the best platform for success.