Gianfranco Zola admits he urged Chelsea to sign Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka.

The Slovakia international signed a new deal to 2027 on Wednesday.

Napoli signed Lobotka from Celta Vigo in January 2020 and he initially struggled, but has gone from strength to strength under coach Luciano Spalletti.

“I already knew Lobotka, because I saw a few of his games when he was proposed to Chelsea," revealed Zola before last night's Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

“He was a good player, but nowhere near what he has become at Napoli today."