Maurizio Sarri has ruled out a return to Italy this summer and says he wants to be at Chelsea next season.
Roma, according to reports, are ready to bring the former Napoli coach back to Italy to succeed Claudio Ranieri, their current head coach.
However, Sarri says he is keen to remain in England and joked he would rather move to another Premier League club before going back to Serie A.
“As I’ve said in every press conference, I want to stay here,” said Sarri, ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Frankfurt.
“I like very much English football – the atmosphere in the stadiums. So if I can I want to stay here. My target is to stay in English football at the moment.”
Asked if Chelsea is the only thing that could take him out of England, he replied: “Or I could try with another English club.”
Transfer ban upheld by FIFA
Chelsea will take their appeal against a two-window transfer ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after it was rejected by FIFA on Wednesday.
Pressed on the transfer ban, Sarri said he had “spoken one month ago about pre-season” with the club’s hierarchy, but revealed he is yet to discuss possible transfers because they “don’t know if they will be able to” sign players.
Chelsea currently have 41 players out on loan, according to their official website, and it has been suggested they could become useful if the club fail to overturn their transfer embargo.
Sarri said: “I like to work with young players. So for me it is not a problem.
“Every month I get a report about the players on loan. We have 45 or 46 players on loan. Of course, we need to consider who is ready, but at the moment I want to be focused on the semi-final.
“There are two or three loan players who are very interesting, of course. But we need to consider their level.”
Kante working to be fit for final
N’Golo Kante suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Watford and Sarri says although it is not “very serious” he may still not be back for the Europa League final – if Chelsea get past Frankfurt – on May 29.
“He had a problem with his hamstring,” he added. “He needs to rest for a couple of weeks so we can try to recover him for the final. We can try. I’m not sure he will be back.”
