What’s Chelsea’s January plan for West Ham and Newcastle target Sarr?
Robin Bairner
- 20 Jan 2022 13:07 GMT
- 5 min read
Chelsea defender Malang Sarr has rarely been used since arriving on a free transfer from Nice in the summer of 2020, but has been enjoying new-found prominence in the squad.
Selection problems meant that he has played nine matches for Thomas Tuchel’s side this season, albeit five in the EFL Cup.
However, he was called upon for the recent Premier League fixture against Manchester City, a game in which he performed a solid role despite his side going down to a 1-0 defeat. It is the only time he has been a part of a Chelsea team that has lost a match.
Nevertheless, he remains well down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, having only enjoyed his chance because of a succession of injury and illness issues in the defence, where the likes of Andreas Christensen and Trevoh Chalobah are missing.
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Who wants Sarr?
According to French outlet Foot Mercato, there are four Premier League clubs chasing his potential arrival in January.
West Ham, Everton, Newcastle and Leicester are all attracted by his profile, which allows him to play either in the centre or the left of the defence. All want the player on a temporary basis until the end of the season.
Chelsea, though, are unwilling to loan out the 22-year-old at this juncture, mindful that squad depth could be vital this season, given the capacity of Covid to infect many members of the team at any one time.
It is reported, furthermore, that Sarr has been vaccinated against the virus and this is another reason why Chelsea are so eager to keep him on their books.
Sarr’s deal at Stamford Bridge runs until 2025, and last season he had two separate spells at Porto, where he played a total of 19 games, scoring one goal.
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