Maurizio Sarri has revealed he was left in the dark over Chelsea’s signing of Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic.
The Blues completed the £57.5million capture of Pulisic on Wednesday, just hours after Sarri had outlined the need for a new wide player in the January window.
But the United States international will remain at the German club on loan for the remainder of the season before completing his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
“I don’t know,” said Sarri when asked about the Pulisic signing. “I didn’t know anything about Pulisic on Tuesday.
“The club asked my opinion about him about one month ago. My opinion was positive. Today I have known that the deal is done but I didn’t know anything.”
Pedro, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Willian are all injured and Sarri’s lack of wide options is beginning to weigh heavy on the team, who dropped two points in the stalemate with Southampton on Wednesday night.
And Sarri was asked if he’d rather the club had negotiated a deal to bring Pulisic in immediately.
“I don’t know, I am not in control of the market. I have to think about the pitch, improving my team and the offensive phase,” he said.
“We are good to build up the action, we have to improve in the last 20 metres. The club know my position, it is up to the board.”
He added: “As I said before I am not in charge of the market, it is difficult for me to talk about the market or the deal of Pulisic.”