Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has defended his intention to keep Juventus loanee Gonzalo Higuain at the club.

Chelsea have options to prolong Higuain’s loan and buy him outright, but his lack of goalscoring form and the club’s transfer ban had left his future at Stamford Bridge in doubt.

According to Football Italia, Sarri replied when asked if the striker was staying: “In theory, yes.

“It’s difficult to adapt to the Premier League. I think in the next season he will be able to score a lot.

“For a striker it is difficult to get used to the Premier League. I remember Suarez at Liverpool in [his] first season only scored three goals, then 16, then 24.”

So does the 60-year-old know what will happen with the former Milan and Napoli hitman at this stage?

“I don’t know. I’m not in charge of the market, so I cannot answer these questions.”

Higuain has netted four times in 14 appearances for the Blues since arriving in January.