Maurizio Sarri intends to delay crunch talks with Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois until just days before both the Premier League season starts and the transfer window closes so that he can personally sell them his Chelsea vision.

Belgium’s progress to the World Cup semi-finals means that two of his star players will not report back from their three-week holiday until Aug 6, but Sarri suspects that meaningful discussions can only be held by “looking them in the eyes”. Chelsea begin their league season against Huddersfield on Aug 11, while the transfer window for signing any potential replacements closes on Aug 9.

Both Courtois, who is out of contract next year, and Hazard, whose current deal runs until 2020, have suggested that they could leave and will be acutely aware of the widely reported interest from Real Madrid.

Sarri was unveiled on Wednesday by Chelsea following their 13th managerial change since 2004 and, in regularly using the word “fun” to outline his style, clearly also hopes that the experience of training with him could help the situation.

Asked if he would speak with Hazard and Courtois before they returned from holiday, Sarri said: “I don’t think so. The players you refer to are very high level players. I would like to keep them in my squad. But telephone calls without looking them in the eyes would not give them any certainty. I want to meet them face to face, talk to them and understand what the best thing will be to do for everyone. I would also like a player to come with me on the pitch for four or five days.