CHELSEA TOLD TO PAY UP FOR NAPOLI BOSS AND PEP INSISTS YOU WON’T BE SARRI

Blues must pay £7m in compensation but Guardiola reckons he’s worth it

CHELSEA are locked in a bitter £7million compensation battle over Maurizio Sarri – but Pep Guardiola has told them they won’t regret paying up.

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis has warned he does “not give discounts to anyone” and is promising to stand firm on allowing Sarri to take over as Chelsea boss.

Sarri, who has been replaced by Carlo Ancelotti at Napoli, has a £7m release clause – which expires tomorrow

– in his contract and Chelsea are refusing to pay it.

The Blues may have to negotiate directly with De Laurentiis to get Sarri, 59, who has two years left on his Napoli contract. If the Blues don’t pay up by the deadline, his price will go up. The impasse raises the prospect of Chelsea sticking with Antonio Conte (right).

Manchester City boss Guardiola said of Sarri: “Napoli are spectacular and his brand of football is a joy to watch.”