Maurizio Sarri remains convinced that Gonzalo Higuain can make an impact at Chelsea and is worth signing on a permanent deal.
Higuain, 31, has scored just three goals for the Blues since arriving on loan from Juventus in January.
But Blues head coach Sarri still believes in the Argentine striker, who previously played under him at Napoli.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Sarri also pointed to the fact that Luis Suarez initially struggled to score for Liverpool before becoming a major star at Anfield.
Sarri said: “I think he has to improve. He has to improve physically and mentally.
“But I think he will be able to be a very useful for us in the last part of the season.
“It’s not easy in the first months to play in the Premier League. It was a problem also for Suarez at Liverpool – he scored only three goals but in the second season he scored 24 goals.
“It’s not easy for a striker, especially for a striker to play immediately well in the Premier League.”
There are doubts over whether Chelsea will buy Higuain when his loan spell ends but Sarri is keen for him to stay at Stamford Bridge.
“Yes of course. But it depends on the club and it depends on Juventus. The situation is not clear at the moment,” Sarri said.