Chelsea’s new manager, Maurizio Sarri has given Kenneth Omeruo slim hope of a recall to The Blues’ mainframe, following a declaration by the Italian gaffer that the squad lacks depth in quality central defenders.
Omeruo has not played a single competitive match since signing for Chelsea since 2012 but, after playing on loan at four different clubs in six years, he has been angling for a permanent stay at Stamford Bridge this season.
Though his name is not included in Chelsea’s first team roster for the season, Omeruo has turned up for preseason training with the squad, and it is now up to him to convince Sarri that he deserves a place in the mainframe.
That target has been boosted by the gaffer’s disclosure that he wants to bring in a new centre-back at the club in this summer’s transfer window.
The former Napoli coach also revealed that he wants to keep the club’s strongest players, which could also be a boost to Omeruo’s hope that he would be upgraded, rather than a new stopper bought during the summer market.
The Blues have been strongly linked with a move for Juventus defender, Daniele Rugani, but the 23-year-old Italian’s agent recently played down talk of a transfer, while AC Milan’s Leonardo Bonucci is also believed to be out of Chelsea’s reach.
However, while speaking at his first press conference as Chelsea boss, Sarri revealed that he would like to sign a new central defender ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.
Sarri said: “I cannot name any names because I don’t know who these people are. I spoke with the club and I said ideally a pinch of quality is lacking in our centre halves for a certain kind of play.
“At the end of the transfers it will be up to me to decide what the most suitable play for our squad is. I must adapt to Chelsea and the available players.”
