Sarri: I am confident key trio will stay
Maurizio Sarri says he is confident of keeping Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Willian at Chelsea and plans to speak to the players by the end of July.
The new manager must wait to discuss the influential trio’s futures as they are recovering from the World Cup and have yet to return for pre-season training.
Chelsea yesterday rejected a third bid from Barcelona for Willian – the latest believed to be around £55million. Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a move for the Brazil forward.
Speaking after his first Chelsea game ended in a 1-0 friendly win over Perth Glory, the Italian coach said: “It’s a pleasure to have Courtois, to have Willian, to have Hazard, but it [their futures] doesn’t depend on me, not only on me. So, we have to wait. I’m confident.”
Goalkeeper Courtois has only a year remaining on his contract, while forwards Hazard and Willian each have an additional 12 months.
Asked when he would have a chance to talk to the players, Sarri added: “Face to face, I think at the end of the month, because they will come to Cobham [training ground] at the end of the month.”
Defender David Luiz, who became a peripheral figure under Antonio Conte last season, played the full 90 minutes in Perth as he attempts to get his career back on track.