Chelsea finally contacted Napoli regarding Sarri on Monday — report

Rumors late yesterday started speaking of a final countdown to Maurizio Sarri joining Chelsea, and while the countdown is of indeterminate length, most expect it to finish before July 1, which is the start of the new fiscal year for both Chelsea and Napoli.

That deadline alone may have forced Chelsea into action at last — no to mention the previously rumored July 2 start date for pre-season training, which some expect to be pushed back a week regardless of the coaching situation (to July 9) — but this supposedly major development was helped by one single and obvious act.

Chelsea have finally contacted Napoli! Imagine that!

Maybe we should’ve been following this Alvino guy all along, instead of the Pedulla dailies. Oh well.

In any case, Aurelio De Laurentiis, the man himself, is now (supposedly) involved. He had previously raised eyebrows with claims that Chelsea never called him since this whole drama began over a month ago, but all the talk had been between agents and intermediaries and the like. Now, finally, we might actually mean business.

The fee for Sarri will be around €5m, according to most reports, while Chelsea will still have to pay Conte’s full severance. Thus the only difference from the start of the summer will be that we saved the €3m difference between Sarri’s original buyout and the new fee. So we can take that to the bank all proudly and then realize we’ve wasted half the summer on absolutely nothing.

Anyway, we’re in the home stretch now, by all accounts, so forza or some such.