CHELSEA want to snap up Zenit ace Leandro Paredes as they eye alternative options to Jorginho.
That’s according to Italian football expert Adam Digby who watched the playmaker closely during his four seasons in Serie A.
Jorginho has been a stalwart for the Blues since being snapped up from Napoli in the summer.
But, with Cesc Fabregas having departed to Monaco, Maurizio Sarri needs alternative options in the Chelsea engine room.
Digby says if Paredes arrives at Stamford Bridge he could end up battling Jorginho for a starting berth.
He told the Transfer Talk podcast: “I think he’s robust enough to survive in the Premier League.
“He’s quick enough to survive in the Premier League.
“I think, to be honest, if I was forced to figure out why Chelsea were interested in him, I would say it’s probably as substitute for Jorginho.
“He’s a little bit more mobile.
“His passing’s not as accurate but he can pay that same role.
“Sarri expects players to fill specific roles in the team, I think you would have to say that he would be much better suited to that kind of role than say, Cesc Fabregas.
“That substitute for Jorginho role is one that is very much open in this Chelsea team as they continue on in Europe and in the Premier League and I think somebody like Paredes can certainly come in and fill that void.
“Would he join knowing he would be a backup? I think so.
“I think he went on to Roma when he wasn’t guaranteed any playing time and he fought for his place.
“He went to Zenit when they paid his buyout fee from Roma because he wanted to move on and he wanted to play Champions League football there.
“Maybe that’s changed a little bit now and he wants to try something else.
“I think the lure of playing in the Premier League and the lure of playing for a well-respected manager like Maurizio Sarri, he probably thinks he can earn a place in the team. I wouldn’t blame him for that.
“He’s a very talented player and he’s well within his rights to think that he can earn a place in Chelsea’s starting 11.
“I think he will find that very hard if Sarri does indeed see him as a sub for Jorginho but he’s more than capable of doing that, for sure.”
Chelsea look set to offload Alvaro Morata in the coming days.
The Spaniard is on the cusp of joining Atletico Madrid having rejected offers from PSG and Bayern Munich.
Gonzalo Higuain will be unveiled in west London once Morata’s exit is confirmed.