Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has demanded physical and psychological improvement from Gonzalo Higuain after the Argentine made a sluggish start to life at Stamford Bridge.
Higuain joined on loan from Juventus in January but has scored goals only against Fulham and Huddersfield. Both clubs been relegated from the Premier League with six games and over a month of the season still to play.
Chelsea have an option to buy Higuain in the summer but it remains uncertain due to both his form and the club's possible transfer ban, which will face a judgement at the Court of Arbitration for Sport this month.
Chelsea have the option to extend his loan by a further year for €18m (£15.5m) or sign him outright for €36m (£31m).
While Higuain toils, back-up striker Olivier Giroud has scored eight goals in his last ten appearances for club and country.
Higuain remains likely to start, however, when Chelsea host West Ham on Monday evening and Sarri has urged him to follow the example of Luis Suarez to thrive in England.
Sarri said of Higuain: 'He has to improve physically and mentally. He is able to be very useful during the last part of the season. It is not easy in the first months to play in the Premier League.
'It was a problem for Luis Suarez at Liverpool in his first season. He scored four goals [after signing in January] and then 24 in his first full season.
'He needs time to improve his physical condition and to be suitable for the Premier League. He is able to do it. We have Giroud and he is in very good mental and physical condition. We need both.'
Asked whether he would like to keep Higuain at Chelsea next season, Sarri said: 'Yes, of course, but it depends on the club and Juventus. It is not clear the situation.'
sayantanpatra
76
The Burger King.... can never improve himself.... 😕😕😠sell him to China...
Carloer
74
i won’t be surprise if higuain starts on monday .. we’ve got Europa on thursday
Musuarez
63
the Guy is already too old to improve:-[[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
amicablef
62
Higuain struggling to adapt in premier league he's getting old now past his prime but he's finishing still there but can't cope with league defenders which is more physical more intensity and higuain lack of pace nowadays
Elsa98
58
The number 9 curse continues.👻
zepimrsy
58
SARRI and higuain can go together.
Bidders
46
Chelsea fans, anything in this? Giroud or Higuain to start?
siuinpryz
46
I think sarri should train higuain...like Master shifu train Po 🤣🤣🤣
bayaekmntu
35
you're the one who signed that deadwood of yours sarri[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Korut
24
chelsea problem is not the striker. their problem is they cant provide their striker good passes. their build play is on the winger side cutting inside to score goal that why chelsea striker not scoring. during D.Costa times chelsea scoring because D.Costa can hold the ball and release the ball to the runner- hazard,pedro,william,oscar and DCosta poached the ball if the runner send the ball back into the box. nowadays the chelsea winger mostly interested to score goal then to give the through ball or early ball crosses to their striker. that why chelsea striker became flop. JUst remember how chelsea play with DDrogba or with DCosta and ull understand what m talking about.