5 winners and losers following Gonzalo Higuain's Chelsea move
Gonzalo Higuain completed his Chelsea move last Wednesday, in time to watch his new teammates beat London rivals Tottenham on penalties the following night - before making his debut in their 3-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
It was an unspectacular showing from the 31-year-old Argentine, whose arrival has divided opinion in west London. Especially considering his well-documented struggles on-loan at AC Milan, this signing very much feels like a short-term fix for a Blues side in need of a morale boost to power their Champions League hopes from now to the season's end.
Whether Higuain will be at the club beyond the summer months remains to be seen, as there is an option to extend his six-month deal.
With all of that in mind, here's a look at five winners and losers from Higuain's latest move:
#5 Winner: Maurizio Sarri
Maurizio Sarri made clear his intentions to sign Higuain and although this deal is only initially a loan, he's got his man. Just like with £60m midfielder Jorginho, he now has two former players under his wing in west London that are essentially guaranteed starters.
Perhaps it's also a sign that Sarri himself will remain in charge longer than most critics have suggested recently, particularly after his comments following their 2-0 defeat by Arsenal earlier this month.
Higuain enjoyed his best goal-scoring spell with Sarri as his manager in 2015/16, topping the charts with a whopping 36 goals and three assists in 35 league games for Napoli. It was a record-equaling number in a season of all-time alongside Gino Rossetti - who achieved the feat with Torino back in 1928/29.
Loans like these are becoming increasingly common because the ability to try-before-you-buy, even with someone as experienced as Higuain, could work in his favor this summer. After all, his comments on the Argentine suggest he wants to continue working with him beyond the end of this season.