Sportitalia: Chelsea still want Sarri

By Football Italia staff

Sportitalia claim that Chelsea have agreed terms with Laurent Blanc, but are waiting a few days to see if Maurizio Sarri can get free of Napoli.

Negotiations between Chelsea and Sarri had seemed to be leading towards a two-year contract, but they hadn’t realised the way Italian contracts work.

Although Sarri was fired by Napoli, he remains under contract and will continue to be paid by the club until there is a termination by mutual consent.

There had been a release clause worth €8m, but that expired on May 31 and Chelsea opted not to pay it.

They instead went into intensive talks with Blanc, including a meeting today with Marina Granovskaia.

A deal has been agreed, but Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedullà maintains Blanc is still “very much considered Plan B.”

Chelsea aim to wait a few days, see if Sarri can calm the waters with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis and find a way out of his contract that will cost less than €8m.

The talk in the media of Chelsea being offended by Sarri’s homophobic comments seems to be a smokescreen for them to help him get away from Napoli.

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