Maurizio Sarri has insisted that Andreas Christensen will not be sold by Chelsea.
The Danish central defender, 22, has become a fringe player under Sarri and both Christensen and his father have suggested he will look to move on in January.
But Sarri’s message is clear: Christensen is not for sale.
Speaking at a press conference, Sarri said: “Christensen for sure is out of the market at the moment.
“He’s an important player for us. He didn’t play very often in the Premier League but he played all the other matches.
“He is very young and he is very important. He will be more important than now in the future.”
But Danny Drinkwater, who does look likely to leave Stamford Bridge next month, is clearly not in Sarri’s plans.
The midfielder has not featured at all under the Italian this season and there is little prospect of him getting a look in.
Sarri said of Drinkwater: “I think he’s a very good midfielder but he is suitable for a midfield with two midfielders.
“With the three, he’s not really a central midfielder and not suitable to play centre-right or centre-left, so I think for him the problem is only my football.”