Chelsea have held talks to sign AFC Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi this summer, with the defender set to be available on a free transfer.
Blues looking to blend youth and experience
Following the 8-2 aggregate defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Marc Cucurella suggested the squad's youthful nature was a big factor, saying: "We lacked experience. For a lot of players, it was the first time playing a match of that calibre, and we paid the price.
"You can always make a mistake, but we should have handled it better. There was a return game to play, and if you keep a cool head, you go back to London with a 3-2 defeat (the score with five minutes left of normal time in the first leg) and anything can happen.
"We made a mistake, tried to attack without a clear structure and then PSG took the chance and proved they have that cutting edge."
cucurella
The average age of the Blues' starting XI in the Premier League this season has been 23.4, which is the youngest of any team, and Cucurella's comments suggest players with a little more experience may need to be signed if Liam Rosenior's side are going to start competing for top honours.
That is exactly what Chelsea are planning to do, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they have now opened talks to sign AFC Bournemouth star Senesi, who will be available on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are also credited with an interest in the Spaniard, and the latter club are leading the race for his signature, but the Blues are now attempting to hijack the deal.
With the Bournemouth star now 28-years-old, he may only have one more big contract before retirement, which means his wage demands are likely to be high, although it is unclear how much the centre-back is likely to hold out for.
Senesi's current wages and key strengths
The Argentinian currently rakes in £50k-a-week at the Vitality Stadium, which is far less than the vast majority of Chelsea's star players earn.
However, the former Feyenoord man could be due a pay rise, having proven himself in the Premier League over the past four seasons, and he is particularly impressive in possession of the ball, averaging more successful passes per 90 than any other Bournemouth player this term (48.6).
Chelsea - Stamford Bridge Related
Talks held: Chelsea make first move for £44m Bundesliga star who's Sunderland's top target
The Blues are stepping up their pursuit of an "outstanding" player.
Hailed as "sublime" by one journalist, the three-cap Argentina international has also chipped in with four assists in the Premier League, showcasing his ability going forward.
That said, despite his age, Senesi has no experience in the Champions League, and Chelsea may need to sign players who are proven at the top level if they are to start competing for major trophies again.