According to Goal’s Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella, Chelsea are mulling over (again!?) a move for a familiar name, Napoli right-back Elseid Hysaj.
Chelsea are considering a move for a Napoli defender who was a favourite under Maurizio Sarri...
— Goal UK (@GoalUK) January 9, 2019
And a deal for Nicolo Barella could be close
Full story from @NizaarKinsella https://t.co/EpxRzAafsh
Hysaj was a faithful squire of now Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri for six seasons, from 2012 to 2018, first at Empoli then at Napoli, following along with the manager and becoming a key fixture in his starting lineups.
That’s been less true under new Napoli boss, and former Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti. While Hysaj still has played plenty of games, his position is not as secure as before. The 24-year-old’s agent, Mario Giuffredi told Italian media last month that a January move should not be ruled out (ed.note: but neither should a contract extension, because agents are gonna agent).
And so, here we are. Still, the chances of Chelsea landing this deal, which could approach the £45 million release clause in Hysaj’s contract, are fairly slim. But if Davide Zappacosta is to leave, as other rumors would have us believe, an obvious opening would need to be filled.
With the threat of a potential transfer ban looming — “when”, rather than “if” seems to be the way that’s trending — Chelsea could be motivated to spend big in January, and thus making Hysaj’s secon reunion with Sarri a reality.