According to a recent report by the Sun, Chelsea are interested in securing the signature of Elseid Hysaj from Napoli during the winter transfer period. The same report goes on to add that the Pensioners boss Maurizio Sarri wants to be reunited with the Albanian international and is prepared to cough up £20m to bring him to Stamford Bridge in January.
The Napoli right-back started his football career at KF Shkodra before making a switch to Empoli to play for their Under-17 side. Hysaj managed to work his way up the club’s youth ranks and featured for their first-team back in 2012. His impressive displays at Stadio Carlo Castellani caught the attention of Napoli chiefs who successfully acquired his services in the summer of 2015.
Since his move to Naples, the Albanian talent has made 152 appearances and has six assists to his name across all competitions. He has also earned 42 international caps for the Albanian national team during his career so far.
Hysaj is quite versatile and can play at both full-back positions which makes him an invaluable asset for Napoli. He can link up play well in the opposition half and is known to use his pace effectively to offer some added width down the flanks.
The Albanian sensation is also a competent defender and is very hard to beat in 1v1 situations. However, his shooting from long range can be quite wasteful which is one of the main reasons why he is not a significant goal-threat.
Is Hysaj The Right Fit For Chelsea?
The potential addition of Hysaj will undoubtedly bolster Sarri’s defensive options at Stamford Bridge. At 29, Cesar Azpilicueta is not getting any younger so the Blues of London could use a fresh face to act as an understudy to the Spaniard in Sarri’s squad. He would be an investment for the long-run, and it makes sense for Chelsea to pay £20m for his services.
Moreover, the Pensioners head coach knows the player well from their time together in Naples so he would be a low-risk acquisition as Sarri is well-aware of his strengths and weaknesses. The Albanian will be a shrewd acquisition for the West London giants if they manage to land him in January.
