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Sarri: Chelsea need to buy alternative for ‘tired’ Jorginho

Maurizio Sarri admits Chelsea need a replacement for Cesc Fabregas after Jorginho’s poor display against Newcastle on Saturday.

Leandro Paredes has reportedly emerged as the Blues’ No 1 target to fill in for experienced Spanish midfielder Fabregas, who last week completed a £10m switch to France with Monaco.

Sarri has £57m summer signing Jorginho, Real Madrid loanee Mateo Kovacic, World Cup semi-finalist Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante as his options in the middle – but replacing Fabregas has become one of the club’s main aims this month.

Zenit paid £24m plus add-ons to Roma for Paredes in 2017, but the Metro claims the 24-year-old has had his head turned by Chelsea’s interest and is keen to make the move.

And Sarri admitted Chelsea’s midfield failings after Saturday evening’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Newcastle, saying: “After 20 minutes, Jorginho lost a lot of balls. It’s unusual and he was in trouble. Maybe he was tired.

“On the bench we didn’t have a player for that position, so we need [one]. The club know my opinion well, I need a player in that position.”