The Oracle of Sarri: Chelsea to decide manager’s fate next month

Thanks to his frequent and unwavering reporting last summer of Chelsea's pursuit and eventual signing of both Maurizio Sarri and Jorginho, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla became somewhat of a cult hero as well as a source of transfer rumors not easily ignored. He was also on the forefront of the Higuain reporting in January, which also ended with a Chelsea signing. Whoever Pedulla’s sources may be, when it comes to the Sarri-sphere, he seems to be spot on far more often than not.

So, what’s Pedulla reporting these days? It’s been rather quiet in terms of Chelsea rumors thus far, even though we’re just weeks away from the start of the transfer window — the impending transfer ban probably has something to do with that! — but one of the biggest uncertainties facing the club is the future of the manager. It’s a familiar situation, to be sure, but no less important, especially with a current squad that’s not quite as able to self-motivate as the Old Guard of the previous decade-plus.

Pedulla, writing for Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), claims that Chelsea will make the Sarri-decision within the next month. Presumably, if the club get back on track for the top-four and we continue marching towards the Europa League final, Sarri will have done enough. Anything less, and it sounds like Chelsea will seriously start exploring the alternative. This might not be a hard deadline of course, especially as the Europa League final isn’t until the end of May, over two weeks after the final Premier League match. But hopefully it does mean that Chelsea are re-examining this season’s progress and whether we are truly on the right or expected track.

Meanwhile, other reports in Italy continue to link Sarri with a soft landing at AS Roma. According to Il Tempo (via Inside Futbol), talks between Roma and Sarri to iron out details of a potential contract are already in motion, and it might or might not include Gonzalo Higuain going with him. Considering that Chelsea cannot sign Higuain as things stand — and should not sign him even if the transfer ban is suspended — and Juventus do not want him back, it’s not inconceivable that he’d end up in the Italian capital, with or without Sarri.