Chelsea transfer news: Maurizio Sarri 'not frustrated' over Blues' lack of January activity

Sarri wants Gonzalo Higuain and a replacement for Cesc Fabregas before the deadline

Maurizio Sarri has revealed he met with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia “two weeks ago” to recommend the signings of Gonzalo Higuain and a replacement for Cesc Fabregas.

While the purchase of Higuain is expected to go through as soon as a replacement is signed by AC Milan - where the Argentine is on loan - the Italian manager also wants to bring in a secondary midfield pivot now Fabregas has gone to Monaco, as he feels Jorginho is overworked.

Sarri otherwise insisted he is not involved in any discussions about Higuain, as he wants to spend all his “mental energies on the pitch”.

“I spoke with Marina two weeks ago, so Marina knows my opinion on how to improve the team,” Sarri said. “Then I decided to focus on the pitch, on matches and training. I am confident because I know Marina is working very hard, but I don't know the market at all. I want to be focused on the matches.

"So I don't call her every evening, otherwise I spend all my mental energy on the market. I think it's better if I spend all my mental energies on the pitch. So I can't help you. I don't know.

“You know my opinion about the replacement of Cesc. We need a replacement, in my opinion. Marina knows very well my opinion. So I'm not frustrated at the moment.”

Sarri said Alvaro Morata is still available and training, even though he is expected to go to Atletico Madrid once Higuain is confirmed.

“I don't know if he will play, but he is training with us, of course. It's normal, I think. It's not... of course, for him, I think it's a very difficult moment. But it's normal for a player in January to be involved in the market. So I think that he's available. Then, like in the last match, I can choose something different.”

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s future is even more uncertain, given that he is so seriously pursued by Bayern Munich and does not want to sign a new Chelsea contract. Sarri said all he can do for the moment is continue to work with the 18-year-old.

“I don't want to talk with him about something that I cannot resolve. I cannot solve it. So I am very happy with him. One month ago, we worked with him for the defensive phase and he improved immediately. And now we are working with him about movements without the ball. In my opinion, he is improving. So, on the pitch, we are really very happy with him. He is improving a lot in the last two months.

“I think that he's in a very positive moment. Also mentally. For the attitude. For the way he is training. I think that, mentally, he is in a very positive moment at the moment.”