Winger main priority for Chelsea in January transfer window, says Maurizio Sarri

Sarri is concerned by Chelsea's lack of options in the team's wide positions

Maurizio Sarri says his main transfer priority is a winger rather than a striker, and that he will not recall either Michy Batshuayi or Tammy Abraham from loans even if Olivier Giroud is badly injured.

Concerns over Chelsea’s forward options have been raised throughout the season, with expensive 2017 signing Alvaro Morata continuing to struggle and Sarri admitting recently that he sees Eden Hazard as his primary choice in that area.

However, the Belgian's versatility as a false-nine means Sarri is not preoccupied with the forward role as the Italian instead pointed to the injury crisis in Chelsea's wide positions.

Giroud left Selhurst Park on crutches after Chelsea's 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace on Sunday and, when asked whether that could mean Batshuayi being brought back from Valencia or Abrahams from Aston Villa, Sarri answered "no".

"No, because I have the option with Hazard in this position,” he said. “We have Morata and Hazard can play very well in this position as we have seen in the last two, three matches, so I think that in the moment I don’t need another striker.

“Maybe another winger, because now we are in trouble with the injuries of Pedro, of [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek, so I have the option and what an option for the striker, but at the moment I have no option for the wingers."