Reports suggest that Jose Mourinho is strategizing a dual move to bring in two sidelined players from Chelsea, as he continues to build Roma’s squad.
Having already secured Chris Smalling from Manchester United and recruited Tammy Abraham and Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea upon taking charge of Serie A side Roma, Mourinho now eyes two more prospects from his former club, according to Calciomercato.
The targeted players are Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, both struggling to secure a spot in the squad under Chelsea’s new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Chalobah, a promising England Under-21 talent, has been grappling with a thigh injury, while Sarr, a center-back, finds himself consistently overlooked.
Chalobah, who emerged from Chelsea’s academy, faces suggestions of being pushed out of the club. His situation has caught the eye of other clubs such as Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich.
Sarr, without a squad number and excluded from the Premier League squad, remained at Chelsea despite previous loan spells at Porto and Monaco since his arrival in 2020.
Under Pochettino’s management, preference has been given to players like Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, and Levi Colwill, leaving limited opportunities for both Chalobah and Sarr. While other defensive options such as Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Bashir Humphreys have made occasional appearances, Sarr’s significant wage and Chalobah’s injury setback have led Mourinho to consider offering them an exit strategy.
Roma, currently placed seventh in Serie A, aspire to secure a Champions League spot despite trailing 13 points behind league leaders Inter Milan. Mourinho has primarily employed a defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Diego Llorente, and Evan Ndicka this season, and while Smalling’s appearances have been limited, the potential acquisitions of Sarr and Chalobah could align with Roma’s tactical requirements, especially within a three-man defensive system.