Chelsea are reportedly considering making a move to sign full-back Elseid Hysaj from Napoli, with manager Maurizio Sarri unhappy with his current options.
As per a report from Daily Mirror, Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are set to raid the Serie A again as they plot a move for £45 million-rated Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj in the ongoing transfer window.
The Blues have been fairly active in the January window, having completed the signing of USMNT international Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund, before loaning him out to the German league leaders for the rest of the season.
More recently, Chelsea announced the capture of Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, on loan from reigning Serie A champions Juventus, with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer. And now manager Maurizio Sarri is hoping for a reunion with another of his former players, as he seeks the signing of Hysaj from Napoli.
It is believed that the former Empoli and Napoli boss is not entirely happy with his current options at right-back. Defensive mainstay and fan favourite Cesar Azpilicueta hasn’t had the best of the seasons for Chelsea this time out, managing just 3 assists from 30 appearances across all competitions.
And with Victor Moses likely to be allowed to leave before the end of the month, along with Italian right-back Davide Zappacosta, Sarri is intent on raiding his former club once again for the transfer of Hysaj, having already signed Jorginho from Napoli in the summer.
The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Empoli, before establishing himself as a regular first-team member under Sarri. Having made over 100 appearances for the club, the Albanian full-back moved to Napoli in 2015, following in the footsteps of his manager.
Since joining the Partenopei, Hysaj has gone on to feature 155 times for the club, but has found himself behind the likes of Nikola Maksimovic and Kevin Malcuit in the pecking order under former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti this season. So far in 2018-19, he has played 20 times in all competitions, registering a solitary assist.
Able to play as a right-back or a left-back, the 42-time capped Albanian international knows the system that Sarri deploys in and out and has thrived in it previously, making him a potentially excellent acquisition for the Blues.
Hysaj has a contract with Napoli that runs till the summer of 2021. Chelsea are believed to be interested in taking the defender on loan initially, before signing him on a permanent basis at the end of the season. However, the Serie A heavyweights are in favour of offloading him permanently before the end of the ongoing transfer window.
The 24-year-old has the requisite experience at the top level and is someone that the manager knows and trusts, having worked with him at both his previous top-flight clubs. It remains to be seen, however, if Chelsea are able to get the deal over the line before the transfer deadline next week.
