Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said “it’s time to decide” Eden Hazard’s future, while AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso has played down talk of Gonzalo Higuain leaving for Stamford Bridge.
Hazard’s current contract expires at the end of next season and Higuain is on a season-long loan at Milan from Serie A champions Juventus.
Will we see Hazard and Higuain lead the line at Chelsea? Five things to know:
- Hazard was linked with Real Madrid in the summer after hinting he was looking for a new challenge after the World Cup.
- The Belgian ended up staying at Chelsea but is yet to sign a new contract with the Blues.
- Higuain was allowed to leave Juventus on loan in the summer following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
- But there has been talk of an exit following the Argentinian’s indifferent start to life at the San Siro – he has scored just give league goals this term.
- Both Sarri and Gattuso have now commented on the futures of Hazard and Higuain respectively.
Hazard has been in fine form so far this season, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in 18 Premier League appearances.
The Belgian playmaker hinted he might stay in midweek by expressing his desire to become a Chelsea “legend”, and Sarri believes it’s time for the 27-year-old’s future to be sorted.
“I think that it’s time to decide,” Sarri said in a press conference on Friday, according to the Guardian.
“Will I sit down with him? No, because I don’t have the power to do this. I am the coach, I am not the president. I am not in charge of the market. I want to speak to him only about his position on the pitch.
“We have to solve this problem if we want to programme the future.”
“I am sure Higuain will remain with AC Milan”
Hazard has been playing through the middle for Chelsea of late, which is indicative of the struggles Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud are currently experiencing.
In Friday’s press conference Sarri stated there is “a chance in the future” Hazard will play along a centre-forward while confirming Morata was excluded from the squad in Chelsea’s midweek win over Watford for “tactical reasons”.
Chelsea have been linked with Higuain, who set a new single-season Serie A record by scoring 36 goals for Napoli under Sarri in the 2015/16 campaign.
Higuain is 10 games without a goal in all competitions, and Gattuso thinks talk of a departure will end once the striker starts scoring again.
“I speak to Higuain everyday and I believe he will return to his normal self when the goals return,” Gattuso told reporters.
“I keep hearing of rumours about possible transfer deals but I am sure he will remain with us.”
Milan sporting director Leonardo has also dismissed reports suggesting Higuain has asked to leave, or that Chelsea have made a bid.
According to Goal, Leonardo said: “My relationship with Higuain is very direct, he has a very important role for us, and he knows it.
“We have never had any doubts about Higuain; no requests from Chelsea, nor has he asked to leave.”
The post AC Milan deny claims Gonzalo Higuain has asked to join Chelsea appeared first on Squawka News.
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