Could a reunion between Sarri and Higuain fire Chelsea to a top-4 finish?

 

It may have taken longer than Chelsea fans had initially anticipated for, first, Antonio Conte to be relieved of his duties, then Maurizio Sarri to be named his successor at Stamford Bridge, but the latter was confirmed last weekend. The Blues then wasted no time in securing his first signing in the form of Jorginho, who Sarri turned into the best ball-playing midfielder in Europe. 

 

Sarri won’t stop there in his bid to improve Chelsea and with the transfer window closing in three weeks’ time, the Blues need to act swiftly to bolster sufficiently. Having finished outside of the top-4, an immediate return to the Champions League is one of the priorities in Sarri’s debut campaign in west London. 

 

A more prolific frontman is high on his transfer wishlist, with Gonzalo Higuain one the Italian is keen on. Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus, the Argentine is surplus to requirements in Turin and a summer exit is very much on the cards. Higuain, like Argentina’s World Cup squad, flattered to deceive in Russia, though the striker did muster just 132 minutes of action as Jorge Sampaoli failed to maximise the vast array of attacking quality at his disposal. 

 

That shouldn’t deter Chelsea from a rumoured pursuit of Higuain, who on his day, is one of the most lethal finishers on the continent. There is also a very good reason why Sarri is keen to reunite with the 30-year-old frontman. Not only are the Blues in need of a top quality experienced frontman to fire them back into Europe’s elite club competition, with Alvaro Morata faltering in his debut season in England and Olivier Giroud more seen as a plan B than a plan A frontman, but the duo have worked together in the past, and to great success. 

 

Sarri spent three years with Napoli before leaving for Chelsea earlier this month having succeeded Rafa Benitez at the Stadio San Paolo back in 2015. The Naples side earned a legion of admirers that season as they finished third, but scored a notable 80 league goals; only Roma (83) bagged more than campaign. Of those 80, 36 were scored by Higuain as he comfortably landed the Capocannoniere, equaling the record set by Gino Rossetti in the 1928/29 season. 

 

 

To put his goal return into context, he was the only Serie A player to score in excess of 20 league goals that season, with future Juventus teammate Paulo Dybala (19) the closest to matching Higuain’s output. While the following two seasons saw him score a combined 40 league goals, an underwhelming return for a striker of his stature, the Argentine still boasts the reputation as one of the most feared forwards in Europe. 

 

Now 30, however, it remains to be seen how Higuain adapts to the rigours of Premier League football. His physical qualities have lessened since Sarri and Higuain last worked together, yet having provided just two assists in the 36-goal campaign, the striker needn't worry about creating for others, but rather net the goalscoring chances created for him. 

 

If Sarri, as rumoured, implements a 4-3-3 formation, then Higuain would spearhead the attacking charge with Eden Hazard, provided Chelsea can ward off interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona for the Belgian, Pedro and Willian, who too has been linked with Barcelona, creating for Higuain from wide. 

 

Since the beginning of the end of Diego Costa’s spell at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been without a consistent, powerful striker and Sarri, even if he can call upon World Cup winner Giroud once he returns to training as a result of France’s triumph, Higuain would go some way to filling a huge void in the final third. His acquisition would be a risk, but he has the physical attributes and the goalscoring pedigree to succeed under Sarri once more.

Could a reunion between Sarri and Higuain fire Chelsea to a top-4 finish?