Maurizio Sarri has insisted he will not be using any of his “mental energy” on transfers as he’d rather concentrate on helping Chelsea on the pitch.
The Blues boss refused to be drawn into discussing the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain, who is set to be signed on loan with the west London club with an option to sign in the summer.
Asked how close Higuain was to signing, Sarri said: “I don’t know. I want to be clear, because I cannot help you.”
The 60-year-old manager has always said he prefers to coach his players rather than look to the market to recruit, and he again reiterated he is leaving Chelsea’s transfer activity to director Marina Granovskaia.
“I spoke with Marina two weeks ago, so Marina knows very well my opinion how to improve the team,” added Sarri who was speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Arsenal.
“Then I decide to be focused on the pitch, on matches, on training. I don’t call her every evening, otherwise I spend all my mental energy on the market and I think it’s better if I spend all my mental energies on the pitch, so I am not able to help you.”
Cesc Fabregas left Chelsea a week ago for Monaco and the Blues are yet to recruit a replacement, with Zenit St Petersburg’s Leandro Paredes reportedly a prime target.
Asked about the delay in a replacement arriving, Sarri said: “I am not frustrated at the moment.”
Alvaro Morata, who joined from Real Madrid for £60million in July 2017, has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Sarri says the Spain striker, who has been linked with Atletico Madrid in recent days, is available to face Arsenal and that the rumours are part of the transfer window.
“For him I think it’s a very difficult moment, but it’s normal for a player in January to be in the market,” added Sarri, who omitted Morata from his squad for last week’s win over Newcastle.
“And so I think he’s available (to play). And then like in the last match I can choose something different.”