The teams go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge tomorrow in the second-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
There had been hope that Gonzalo Higuain would be available for the match if the Blues could register him by 12pm this lunchtime.
But those hopes were scuppered when Sarri confirmed that the deal for his former striker was not completed in time for the deadline.
It’s now likely that the Argentine will make his first appearance for Chelsea in the FA Cup Fourth Round tie versus Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
Higuain landed in London this morning and was pictured at the airport in Italy boarding the flight.
It’s understood that his medical did not take place at Cobham training ground.
The deal had been on hold while AC Milan held talks with Genoa over the signing of Krzysztof Piatek.
The Polish international is now on his way to the San Siro for £35million which gave Juventus the green light to instruct Higuain that he can fly to London.
The move was also see the completion of Alvaro Morata’s switch to Atletico Madrid.
27-year-old Morata will pen a six-month loan deal at the Wanda Metropolitano, which contains an option to buy at the end of the season.
Sarri offered some clarity during his press conference just one hour the deadline passed to register Higuain and praised the experience he will add to the squad.
“He scored 36 goals in 35 matches in Serie A. In the season he scored 39 goals so he did very very well. For sure, he is one of the best strikers that I had in my career,” he said.
“They are trying to sign a contract with Higuain today. We are hoping he will bring us goals. He is good at his all round play, but we are hoping he brings goals.
“He wants to win all the time in any situation. In the last five years he lost his temper twice a little bit.
“it is impossible [to play tomorrow], I have to speak with the doctor and see him more, but I think for tomorrow it is impossible.
I think that the club agrees with me when I told them my opinion about the team. So January market is very difficult especially for a striker, it is difficult to find one of the most important strikers in the world.
“So I think the club is working very well because it is not easy to get a new striker and a very important striker in the January market.”