LONDON – Maurizio Sarri’s agent flew to London on Thursday night to thrash out the Italian’s Chelsea future.
The manager’s representative, Fali Ramadani, has talks scheduled with the Blues hierarchy to discuss whether Sarri will be backed to continue in the job after leading the club to Europa League glory, or allowed to leave for Juventus.
A summer exit for Sarri seemed inevitable earlier this year, but Chelsea’s strong finish to the season has made that less of a certainty.
Sarri guided Chelsea to a third-place finish in the Premier League, securing a return to the Champions League, and lifted his first major trophy with Wednesday’s 4-1 success in Baku against Arsenal.
The 60-year-old is keen to build on his first season’s work at Stamford Bridge, having won over previously disgruntled players.
Defender David Luiz said: “He is a great person, a great guy, a great manager and we finished in the best way for him.
“It is for the club to decide, but I’m so happy with him.”
Key in the talks will be the restrictions placed on Sarri if Chelsea’s summer transfer ban is upheld, and if the Blues lose Eden Hazard, who is expected to join Real Madrid for around £100 million this weekend.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hazardeden10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HazardEden10 #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/9yVa0YFv40
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Chelsea chiefs do not want to sack Sarri after his finish to the season, and are keen to avoid adding to the more than £90m they paid in compensation to axed bosses in the Roman Abramovich era.
Sarri has agreed a three-year deal in principle with Juventus, whose president Andrea Agnelli was in talks with Blues chairman Bruce Buck before Wednesday’s final in Baku.
Chelsea would want £5m compensation for Sarri.