Adios, Álvaro…
Chelsea are lining up a £50m bid for Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, according to reports, as the blues look to upgrade on Álvaro Morata.
Morata scored a brace against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup this weekend but has not been a reliable source of goals during his 18 months at the club.
The Spaniard looks likely to leave the club this January on loan, with Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund both reportedly interested in taking the striker off Chelsea’s hands.
Chelsea are hoping to replace Morata with Cavani, who has scored 12 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has tried playing Olivier Giroud up front, as well as moving Eden Hazard into a central role in an attempt to solve their goalscoring problem – Chelsea have scored the fewest goals (38) of the Premier League’s top six teams.
Hazard is not keen on the central, however, and would prefer to return to his more natural left-wing position with licence to roam, combining with a more authentic number 9.
That number 9 could be Cavani, according to the Daily Express, should PSG decide to cash in on the Uruguayan striker and move Kylian Mbappé into a central position.
Sarri is also keen to bring in Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella for an additional £45million this month, though you’d suspect the club will be reluctant to spend another £95m in the January window, having already signed Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund.
When asked about the signing of Pulisic, who will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Dortmund, Sarri admitted he knew nothing about the transfer until the deal was wrapped up.
“I didn’t know anything about Pulisic on Tuesday,” Sarri said.
“The club asked my opinion about him about one month ago. My opinion was positive. Today I have known that the deal is done but I didn’t know anything.
“I don’t know, I am not in control of the market. I have to think about the pitch, improving my team and the offensive phase.”
“We are good to build up the action, we have to improve in the last 20 metres. The club know my position, it is up to the board.
“As I said before I am not in charge of the market, it is difficult for me to talk about the market or the deal of Pulisic.”
It begs the question, just how involved in transfer dealings is Sarri? Either way, he won’t be complaining if the club give him Cavani as a late Christmas present.
