If Chelsea’s hierarchy are smart this summer, there will be two obvious priorities. Adding experience to a young Chelsea squad, and bringing in a leader at centre-back. Harry Maguire would provide both.
Despite boasting 10 separate players that can play in the middle of the defence, including loanees Axel Disasi and Aaron Anselmino, the Blues are expected to bring in a centre-back or two in the summer.
Plenty have been linked, including Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic and, more recently, Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio. But neither are in their late twenties, and neither boasts the experience that is required.
One of many problems on the pitch at the moment 🤦♂️
Chelsea's Wesley Fofana
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Charlie Austin believes Antonio Rudiger would be Chelsea’s perfect summer signing, with the Real Madrid star’s contract due to expire in June. But Jason Cundy thinks Chelsea need a player like Harry Maguire.
Jason Cundy suggests he’d have Harry Maguire at Chelsea
It has been a good season for Maguire. The giant United defender has just signed a new one-year deal, worth £190,000 a week at Man United with his previous deal due to expire at Old Trafford in the summer.
Maguire is also set to be a part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad this summer, offering leadership off the pitch and plenty of quality on it. Speaking to TalkSPORT, Cundy says Chelsea need a Maguire.
“Maguire has had a brilliant couple of weeks recently, he’s got himself in the England squad, there’s a chance he goes to the World Cup. You go back three months ago, there would have been no chance.
England v Uruguay - International Friendly
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“There are moments in games where I look for experience, there’s Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella but they did not look like the players I know they are. The game ends up getting ripped away from us.
“At times it’s not just on the pitch but also in the dressing room, there’s no figurehead,” He continued: “Bring in a Petr Cech, John Terry, or Didier Drogba into the squad then we are a serious team.
“I don’t think currently we are a million miles away; there’s quality there but some of the players have not stepped up. But we need a leader throughout the spine of the team,” Cundy said, regarding Maguire.
Troy Deeney agrees with Cundy, suggesting an Everton player
It is quite clear to all who watch Chelsea at the moment that the Blues need an experienced centre-back. One that can lead a defence with talented players, but are unorganised. The loss to Man City proved that.
What is Chelsea’s best centre-back partnership?
Fofana and Hato couldn't stop City.
Chelsea are now the fifth-worst side in the Premier League for defending from crosses, conceding a 12th goal against Man City when Nico O’Reilly headed home a cross from the in-form Rayan Cherki.
While Troy Deeney did not suggest Maguire, he did say that Chelsea need a player like Everton’s James Tarkowski. That kind of rugged, dependable leader in the heart of the defence is just what Chelsea need.
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