While all the talk is about hiring a new manager, Chelsea’s hierarchy are set for a crucial summer window, and Joe Cole has suggested three new signings, including two England stars.
The search for a new manager is ongoing, with Calum McFarlane remaining in charge until the end of the season. An interim spell that sees McFarlane’s next game coming against Man City in the FA Cup final.
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But aside from BlueCo’s hunt to hire a new gaffer, with Xabi Alonso now the club’s pick to take over in the summer, Chelsea have a busy summer ahead with player turnover likely to be at an all-time high.
Plenty need to go, especially if Chelsea fail to qualify for Europe. Signings are also required, with the Blues lacking experience and leadership. On that note, Cole has picked three signings he’d like at Stamford Bridge.
Joe Cole wants two England players and Robert Lewandowski
Behdad Eghbali has already made it clear that Chelsea’s hierarchy and the club’s five sporting directors are aware that leadership and a few older players are needed. Cole has three, cheap-ish suggestions.
Speaking to The Sun over the weekend, Chelsea legend Cole wants two players set to be picked by Thomas Tuchel in England’s World Cup squad in City’s John Stones and midfielder Jordan Henderson.
England Men Training Session
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
He’d also like to see an incredibly ambitious move for Chelsea to bring in Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona who like Stones, is available on a free. The Pole has never played in the Premier League.
“Lewandowski, he’s coming to the end of his contract; we need a centre forward. He probably fancies the Premier League and living in London, give him a year-long contract to come and play 35 games for us.
“Help out Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. They need those types of players. I said Jordan Henderson last season and people laughed. Look at what Brentford have done, and nobody’s going, ‘hold on a minute’.
“I know he’s not been blowing the doors off. But he sets the tone; helps the players around him, all the intangible things you can’t see. We spent this money on young players; they have no one around them.”
Chelsea have tried to sign Robert Lewandowski before
If the Blues do go in for Lewandowski this summer, with his future at Barcelona in doubt, then it won’t be the first time that BlueCo have attempted to sign the legendary Bayern Munich striker during their tenure.
On a free transfer, he has to be considered!
John Stones graphic
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Back in 2022, with Romelu Lukaku leaving the club, Chelsea attempted to sign him. He would eventually end up at Barcelona that summer, signing a four-year deal that is due to expire at the end of next month.
Reports at the time said then-Chelsea manager Tuchel had identified Lewandowski as the ideal man to come in and replace Lukaku. He fits the Chelsea profile of a tough, goal-scoring no.9, like many others.
Certainly, he would boast the same pedigree that has gone before him – the likes of Didier Drogba, Diego Costa, Hernan Crespo, and more. Whether he would be tempted, as Cole says, is another story.
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