Maurizio Sarri 'waiting' on new midfielder following Cesc Fabregas departure
Tuesday 29 January 2019 13:53, UK
Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri says he is "waiting" for the club to sign a new midfielder.
Chelsea had been looking at players to replace Cesc Fabregas, who moved to Monaco earlier this month.
Leandro Paredes, who was a reported Chelsea target earlier in the window, has signed for Paris Saint-Germain from Zenit Saint Petersburg for £35m.
Ethan Ampadu and Mateo Kovacic deputised for Jorginho who was rested for the majority of Chelsea's FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Sarri said: "I thought it was important for us to have two players [arrive]. One has arrived and I am waiting for the other.
"If he arrives I will be very happy, if not I will have to work with these players which isn't a problem.
"[Ethan] Ampadu didn't play very well in that position but he is very young and it's a new position. It's not easy to play there.
"In the second half we tried Mateo [Kovacic]. He is able to move the ball very fast and very clean but we need to see if he can play there in a defensive match."
Premier League Highlights
Chelsea have seven midfielders available to them with N'Golo Kante, Kovacic, Jorginho, Ruben-Loftus Cheek, Ampadu, Ross Barkley and also Danny Drinkwater able to play in the three positions in midfield. But Sarri doesn't believe the latter fits into his system.
He added: "He [Drinkwater] is with us, I told you my opinion, he is a very good player but more suitable to playing with two midfielders. He is a very good player in a 4-4-2.
"Not at the moment [he won't play], then I have to wait until the end of the month."
