Former Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge has questioned why the Blues did not prioritise a move for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia while he was available in January. The comments were made after Liam Rosenior's team was put to the sword by Manchester City on Sunday.
BlueCo, the consortium led by Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, completed a £4.25 billion takeover of Chelsea back in 2022. Since then, the Premier League giants have spent over £1 billion on new signings.
Notably, the west London club have resorted to investing heavily in young players with high potential rather than bringing in proven talent. The lack of experience in the squad has been exposed multiple times this season and Sturridge called out the ownership for their recruitment strategy.
Sturridge, who won four trophies including the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge, talked about the risk of the Blues missing out on Europe's top club competition next season.
He was quoted as saying by The Chelsea Chronicle:
“The biggest thing for Chelsea is making sure they get Champions League football. The recruitment, attracting players without Champions League football, is going to be very difficult for them."
Sturridge insisted that his former team needs to look at experienced players. He went on to admit that they also missed the trick by not launching a move for Kvaratskhelia, who joined PSG from Napoli for £59 million in January, 2025.
“They need players who are the finished article. They spend what, £40m, £50m on players and no disrespect to them, but Kvaratskhelia at PSG, who at €70m (£59m) in January [2025], they go and buy him.
“You saw what he did to them over two legs, he was available. But they buy multiple players, when you could spend more on one, one playing at the highest level, Champions League, we know what he’s about.
“That’s what it is, it’s all good investing in potential, but potential is not enough, it’s got to come true. You have to buy experienced players who can help the younger players be the players we hope they can be.”
Chelsea next face Manchester United challenge in push for Champions League qualification
The defeat to Manchester City now means Chelsea are four points behind Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot. It does not get any easier next weekend for the Blues, who host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have one of the toughest run-ins from now until the end of the season. After the game against United next Saturday, they face Brighton away, Leeds in the FA Cup semis, Nottingham Forest at home, Liverpool away, Tottenham at home and Sunderland away on the last day of the season.
It remains to be seen whether the Blues can actually get ahead of Liverpool and book their place in next season's Champions League.