Chelsea have identified Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella and Zenit’s Leonardo Paredes as potential replacements for Cesc Fabregas, according to reports.
Fabregas appeared to have played his final game for the Blues in their 2-0 FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with the Spaniard set to sign for Thierry Henry’s Monaco.
Who will replace Fabregas at Chelsea: Barella or Paredes? Five key things to know…
- After 198 games, Fabregas’ time at Chelsea appears to be up with a move to Monaco in the offing.
- Sarri has insisted the Spaniard would only be let go if the club signed a replacement.
- Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella has been identified as that replacement, according to reports.
- A £40m deal for former Roma midfielder Leonardo Paredes has also been reported.
- According to the Premier League, Chelsea currently have 16 foreign players registered with a maximum of 17 allowed.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has insisted the departure of Fabregas would leave him with a ‘problem’, with the Italian viewing the former Arsenal man as the only viable back-up to Jorginho in the deep-lying midfield position.
But that ‘problem’ now appears to be solved. Sky Sports are reporting Chelsea are looking to line up a £45m move for Barella, who has made 20 appearances in Serie A this season and racking up an 82.3% pass accuracy.
Back in December, Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini insisted Barella would remain at the club at least until the end of the season.
“It’s been like this for months,” Giulini told Radiolina, as reported by Football Italia.
“I believe it’s only right that we enjoy him for as long as he’s here with us. ‘If things change then we’ll announce it, but he’s very happy here and the club no intention of selling him.
“Reading that there are many offers for him isn’t right. I hope he stays with us for a long time and certainly, like I’ve already said before, he won’t leave in January.”
However, given Chelsea’s significant financial firepower, the Italian club may be powerless to stop the sale if they come knocking.
Who is Chelsea target Nicolo Barella?
Nicolo Barella, 21, is seen as one of the hottest midfield prospects in Italian football right now, having made 87 appearances for the Cagliari first team to date.
The midfielder has scored seven goals during that time and his form led to a first call-up to the Italian national side in 2018, earning four caps so far.
Born after January 1 1997, the Italian would be eligible “over and above the limit of 25 players per squad” according to Premier League regulations.
Chelsea have allegedly identified Barella, who can play in a deep-lying position or further forward as an attacking midfielder, as their main target to replace the outgoing Cesc Fabregas, while Manchester United are also rumoured to be looking at the talented midfielder.
However, given the fact Barella tops the tackling charts for Cagliari in Serie A this season, he may perhaps be a more suitable understudy for N’Golo Kanté.
Sarri has previously emphasised the need to diversify his midfield options, suggesting Chelsea needed a back-up to the World Cup winner in December.
This leaves Leonardo Paredes as the ideal Fabregas replacement.
Who is Chelsea target Leandro Paredes?
Leandro Paredes has completed more accurate long balls (114) than any other midfielder in the Russian Premier League this season.
Distribution has never been in question.
pic.twitter.com/qxV3b3E3ZS
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 8, 2019
The Argentinian is accustomed to operating in the the deep No.6 role that both Jorginho and Fabregas are deployed in under Sarri.
The former Roma midfielder has played more accurate long balls than any other midfielder in the Russian Premier League so far this season. Paredes also leads his Zenit teammates for total passes and chances created – although set-piece taking may account for the latter.
The post Maurizio Sarri keen to replace Fabregas amid Chelsea links to Barella and Paredes appeared first on Squawka News.
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