According to Metro - Main, Joe Cole described Lewandowski and Stones as ideal additions to provide experience and leadership for Chelsea's young squad. Cole called for a change in the club's transfer approach, which under BlueCo ownership has focused on elite young talent on long-term contracts. Chelsea's oldest recruit last summer was Joao Pedro at age 24, as reported by multiple sources.
Behdad Eghbali has suggested the club will target 'ready-made' players this summer, indicating a potential policy shift. Robert Lewandowski's contract at Barcelona expires at the end of the current campaign, while John Stones is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, according to multiple reports. Bernardo Silva is also expected to leave Manchester City on a free transfer this summer.
We need experience, someone to come in and support the young players. I would be looking at Lewandoski. If his contract is up at Barcelona, get him in for a year. That could work, someone to come in and help the young players. He is a big name, has that stature and would be a huge presence in the dressing room. I think he could really help Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. John Stones as well maybe if City let his contract expire. He is another who could be an big presence in the dressing room, to help and nurture the great young centre-halves we have at Chelsea. He might not be able to play 50 or 60 games anymore but will improve players around him.
Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris believes Chelsea should sign Silva, as reported by Metro - Main (second article). William Gallas also endorsed signing Stones on a free transfer, according to Metro - Main (third article). Chelsea returned to the Champions League this season but were eliminated in the last 16 by Paris Saint-Germain.
The club has lost its last three Premier League games. Chelsea have made it through to the FA Cup final. Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior were sacked as Chelsea managers, as confirmed by multiple sources.
I would welcome it but I don't think it will happen. They will be financial decisions again. Arsenal and Manchester City have been run smoothly to build a football team on the grass. Obviously there is business in place these days because clubs are huge c
Joe Cole also suggested Chelsea should sign James Trafford this summer, according to Manchester Evening News. Trafford joined Manchester City for £31 million via a buy-back clause but has featured in only 11 matches across all competitions this season. Chelsea are expected to integrate Mike Penders into the senior squad this summer.
I'm not sure that we'll be able to become title contenders next season no matter what we do, to be honest. I think we're so far off it. I think that bringing in some real quality characters and experience will certainly help the players that are good enough to be at Chelsea and the players that are maybe just underperforming and have the potential to go on and be better than what they are at the moment. I think there are certain players at the football club that I don't think it would matter who you bring in, I'm not sure that they're going to improve too much. I think those are the ones that maybe you need to move on. But certainly bringing in people like Bernardo Silva would be good, his performance the other day was absolutely outstanding. That's all we've seen for nine years at Manchester City: Someone who is not big in stature, you wouldn't necessarily say he's physically unbelievable apart from the distance he covers, but he plays with pure intelligence, is brave as you like, is a great character and he's always available and turns up in big games. So would I look at Bernardo Silva? Absolutely.
But if I was Bernardo Silva, I wouldn't be looking anywhere near Chelsea though, and that's coming from a massive Chelsea fan. I think that's where a problem lies. We aren't qualifying for the Champions League and if you're an experienced player, you want to see other experienced players coming through the door. So whether there's a domino effect, whoever the first person through the door is will have to be a brave person because if you don't get Champions League football then I'm not sure many will be following.
It's hard with Robert Sanchez because he's performed well at times. He came out of the starting lineup to Jorgenson the other day. So it doesn't look like Liam Rosenior has settled on a No.1 as much as he says he 'doesn't have a No.1'. That's just how he operates. When a goalkeeper like James Trafford becomes available, then Chelsea may have to strike. He is improving, is Sanchez, but I still think there's another level. Is it going to be there in time for Chelsea to kick on and be challenging for the Champions League and competing with the Arsenal and Man City's of the world? Liverpool have got Allison, Man City have got [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, and Arsenal have got David Raya. That's the level of goalkeeper Chelsea need. Sanchez can get there, but can he get there quick enough?
I didn't expect the situation [with Donnarumma] to happen but it happened, so just get on with it. So it's happened so I work very hard every day and see what happens, give it my best shot. No, it wasn't [no.1 spot promised]. So it is what it is. It's football, you've got to keep grafting every day and the games that come, play as hard as you can. This is just another experience to add to my career and it has been a good learning experience.
What does John Stones bring to Chelsea? Leadership experience and composure. He is calm. He can bring you everything. He looks like he can be the right guy to be the leader of the defence line at centre-back. I think Stones can be a good idea.
Christian Romero is a winner but he could not be the new Thiago Silva at Chelsea. As a player and a captain, Christian Romero has a different style. What you need is one experienced player who can control every team and when you play alongside Romero I think a player might feel less secure, especially when you are young. You need players who won't take a red card for a stupid foul. For me, Romero has to improve in this part because he puts his teams in trouble. Maybe Chelsea need to look for centre-backs who can bring you all these things to be calm and have that security to be a good captain at the back.
The best move the club could make now, a realistic move as well, is to go to Jose Mourinho. Say that this is what we can do, and just let the man take charge of the club. Just say, rebuild my club for me, we're going to step back, you get us back on track. Give him a long contract, and tell the players and the fans just to take the transition. Tell the fans, we've given you what you want. Jose is in charge of bringing the players in. Jose is in charge of everything. So, the fans know where they stand, and the players know where they stand as a group. And then leave it. It's going to take a few years. But I'm pretty sure, in three years, Chelsea will be in a healthier position than they are now. Everyone's thinking he's finished, but there's a reason Real Madrid are looking at him.