Chelsea transfer news: Maurizio Sarri admits he has told board club ‘need something different’ going forward

Sarri wants the club to sign another style of attacker to offer more life to their forward line, although he would not be drawn on whether they should have brought in Christian Pulisic immediately

Maurizio Sarri believes Chelsea “need something different” in their attack, something he insists he has explained to the Chelsea board now that the January transfer window has opened.

The Italian’s side trudged to a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton, and have now only scored 11 goals in their last 10 league games, after yet another display where there wasn’t much beyond sideways passing.

Sarri wants the club to sign another style of attacker to offer more life to their forward line, although he would not be drawn on whether they should have brought in Christian Pulisic now, rather than allow him to stay at Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season.

He also admitted that the current goal struggles are a big “problem” that must be solved.

“The club knows very well my opinion,” Sarri said of transfer plans.

“I think we need something different for characteristics. I think we played a very good match for 80 metres of the pitch, then we were in trouble in the last 20 metres. We created goal opportunities, not too much, but it's not easy to create a lot of goal opportunities in this type of match, because they were very low [in where they sat in defence].

“Of course if you're able to score the first goal you're able to create a lot of opportunities, because you can find spaces. We have to try to solve the problem of the last 15, 20 metres. In the last matches we were in full control of the match, everywhere against every team. For us it's not easy at this moment to score the first goal. We have to solve this problem.”

As regards to whether he would prefer to have Pulisic now, Sarri said: “I don't know. I said before I'm not in charge of the market, so for me it's very difficult to speak about the market or the deal of Pulisic.

“The board knows very well my opinion… On the bench I had only one offensive player, but [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek has back trouble.

“For me it was really very difficult to try to change the match in the last 30 minutes. I put on the pitch Fabregas, but only because in that moment of the match we moved the ball not like in the first half. I wanted another technical player to improve moving the ball. At the moment we're in trouble with the offensive players.”

There was better news from Sarri, as he revealed that the injury Olivier Giroud picked up against Crystal Palace in Sunday’s 1-0 win is not serious.

Chelsea struggled in front of goal against Southampton (Rex Features)

“I think it's better than what I thought after the Palace match. The doctor told me that in 10 days he will be able to train. The problem is this moment of course. Today was really important to try to change the match. It was impossible.”

Southampton’s Ralph Hassenhutel meanwhile said he was proud of his side’s display, but that he will look to do business in January.

“I think it was mainly against the wall a fantastic performance from my team, amazing fight.

“We have to do something, I think [in the market]. I have a very good view on our players, what I can expect from them and what I don't see. We need to get some new players in that's for sure.”