According to the latest reports, Arsenal legend Paul Merson has stated that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich could replace current Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri with Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe next season. The Cherries boss has shown the world that he can play some wonderful football and the top clubs in the country could look to hire him.
Ever since Maurizio Sarri took charge of the Chelsea football club back in the summer of 2018, it has been a bit of a mixed bag for the 60-year-old, who replaced his fellow Italian compatriot Antonio Conte at the helm. Sarri introduced a kind of football that was attractive and effective at the club with his philosophy and gained plenty of praise and plaudits for instilling the theory in his players. The former Napoli tactician guided Chelsea to the League Cup final but lost out to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in a penalty shootout. Sarri has also taken the West London club to the semi-finals of the Europa League and they look like serious contenders to go on and win the continental competition. However, the Blues still face an uphill task to finish inside the top four of the Premier League and be eligible to play Champions League football next season.
Sarri has been stubborn with his tactics and philosophy and he has had some problems with the fans and the players as well. There were rumours that he could be sacked in the summer itself and a new appointment could be made by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. The Russian billionaire has shown that he wants the club to now move forward and in this tough situation, he may decide to fire Sarri.
According to Arsenal legend Paul Merson, Sarri will be sacked in the summer and his replacement will be Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe. Howe has done a great job with the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium playing some lovely football on a tight budget and has impressed pundits and other fans, leading Bournemouth to 12th in the Premier League table at the moment.
While speaking to Sky Sports as a pundit, Merson said, “If Roman Abramovich is still there next year and he has not sold the club, Eddie Howe could be the next manager of Chelsea. I think it is great. He plays an expansive game of football. Chelsea fans want to see the action and I know the owner does not go as much now but he also wants to see action. Sarri was brought in to play the Napoli way. Score lots of goals and play gung-ho football. It was never going to happen but Howe plays that way. He opens the game up a lot better than Chelsea do.”
Daily Record | Maurizio Sarri remains under pressure at #Chelsea and could be replaced by Watford manager Javi Gracia, whose tenure in charge of the Hornets has impressed Stamford Bridges bosses. #CFC pic.twitter.com/vAzYxbK4eO
— The Blues (@TheBlues___) April 15, 2019
However, some others want Watford boss Javi Gracia to replace Sarri at the Bridge, which could be a possibility as well.
The 51-year-old Merson also further stated that Howe was capable of managing a top-level team in England’s top flight even though Bournemouth lost to Fulham last week, “I have been down to Bournemouth and I like the way he works and how he gets his message across. He can manage at the top level. I think days like last week keep him at Bournemouth for a little bit longer. That is the way he wants to play.”
