Chelsea will need to be creative this summer. They need to strengthen their squad significantly for incoming manager Xabi Alonso. And it has already been stated time and again how they want to sign proven and experienced players. It won’t be easy to pull off on a budget though. They have no Champions League or even European football coming up. On top of that, the Blues have struggled to bring in a long-term front-of-shirt sponsor for the entirety of the BlueCo era.
So, it would not be a bad idea to look towards free agents. It would at least take care of the high transfer fees that are required to sign quality players.
Some of these players might no longer be in the prime of their careers. But they can still contribute in the right role, bringing in experience and winning mentality to a side that has lacked both over the past few years.
Joe Cole has urged the club to make two such signings. The Chelsea hero told football.london via Specsavers:
“One thing we’re sure we don’t want is wholesale changes because these young players that you had belief in three years ago: they’re still the same players. They just need what I’ve been saying for two or three years, where you have experience around them within the group that helps them through games to coach them, whilst on the pitch to give them their wisdom, you know, and build it out that way.
“Even if you’re just selling players, there’s ones that are not going to get near it. That’s not for me to say, that’s for them to work out and then and then you bring in your John Stones and Robert Lewandowski and players on a free transfer who don’t need to play every minute of every game, but they understand winning, they understand culture and they can still help out in the pitch and do bits. And them players that need that, they’ve got it within the group, it can’t be from coaches, all the time.
“All the great teams are coached from within their own dressing room and its knowledge and wisdom passed down over the years. Like, it just baffles me how people just don’t understand that. But hopefully, they’ve read the room and that’s the way they go.
“If not, if they don’t, then it’ll be all much of the same. Chelsea will be better next year and they’ll probably say we’re on the way up again. But you once you get back up, you’ll always hit the same ceilings. When you get to elite level, you need experience, you need wisdom and you need quality.”
Joe Cole wants Chelsea to sign John Stones and Robert Lewandowski
Cole knows what it takes to win things in English football. He did that often during his time at Chelsea, quite often as one of the faces of the team as well. So, his input on the situation is quite valuable.
The two picks from Cole are interesting to say the least. And it is quite clear that he is thinking about the spine of the team, which should be a focus of Chelsea this summer.
On one hand, you have John Stones. He is leaving Manchester City and was an integral part of their team for quite some time before losing his place in the starting XI recently.
On the other hand, Lewandowski is one of the greatest strikers of his generation. And is available for free, as he is leaving Barcelona at the end of his contract.
Would Lewandowski and Stones be good signings?
Stones could still contribute both on and off the pitch, especially at a side as defensively poor as Chelsea. He would bring the experience that this side needs badly at the back. Sign a rising centre-back alongside him and the Blues would be covering both bases.
As for Lewandowski, it is almost a no-brainer. He is 37 years of age, yes, but we have seen legends come to the Premier League in recent years and still succeed.
Lewandowski might have slowed down, but he still scored 19 goals for Barcelona last season. And his experience could be invaluable for someone like Joao Pedro or Nicolas Jackson.