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Chelsea have been active in the transfer market with a view to strengthening Xabi Alonso’s squad (Picture: Getty)
Former Chelsea star Andy Townsend says Liam Delap is ‘not anywhere near the level required’ at Stamford Bridge and Danny Welbeck would be a welcome addition up front.
Chelsea have set out their stall at the start of the summer window, bringing in Marco Palestra from Atalanta before completing a British-record £117 deal for Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers.
But club bosses are not yet satisfied with their transfer business and and have set their sights on two of the Premier League’s most experienced players with a view to strengthening Xabi Alonso’s squad.
Having moved away from their purely youth-led transfer policy this summer, the Blues have identified Brighton forward Welbeck and Brentford veteran Jordan Henderson among their top targets.
Transfer negotiations for Welbeck are believed to be at an ‘advanced’ stage, with the 35-year-old said to be ‘keen’ on pushing through a switch to west London.
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Meanwhile, Chelsea are deemed to be among the ‘leading contenders’ for former Liverpool captain Henderson, despite the fact the 36-year-old currently being sidelined with a broken arm.
Asked for his thoughts on the rumours surrounding Welbeck and Henderson, ex-midfielder Townsend told talkSPORT: ‘There’s good reasons for both of those. I think Danny is just one of those players who has got better and better the older he’s got.
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Chelsea are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Brighton striker Welbeck (Picture: Getty)
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Delap is ‘not at the level required’ to play for Chelsea, says Townsend (Picture: Getty)
‘I think Brighton have managed him, which was always the issues he had at his previous clubs, getting injured, missing matches and not playing enough.
‘Brighton have managed and handled him very well, it’s been the perfect fit for him and he had a particularly good season for him last season.
‘He was never prolific, Danny, but he’s shown he can score important goals for his team and can lead the line for his team. Physically, the game has become less of a problem to him the older he’s got which is unusual.’
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Delap managed just two goals in a disappointing debut season with the Blues (Picture: Getty)
According to Townsend, neither Jackson or Delap are up to the standard required at Chelsea – and Welbeck would represent a major improvement were he to be brought in as a replacement.
He added: ‘The Nicolas Jacksons of this world I never thought was good enough.
‘Liam Delap is clearly not anywhere near the level required at Chelsea.
‘I think to get somebody like Danny to come in, knows what it’s all about, they don’t have to worry about him settling in or bedding him in… just let him get on with it and do what he’s been doing for Brighton.
‘I don’t think it’s a problem. I think it’s quite a good signing.’
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Henderson has emerged as a surprise target for Chelsea this summer (Picture: Getty)
Townsend has been a little taken aback by Chelsea’s bid to sign Henderson but can see the sense in the move, especially if Enzo Fernandez looks destined for the exit door at Stamford Bridge.
‘The Jordan Henderson one I’m not quite so up with,’ he explained.
‘But is that because they’re guarding about Enzo Fernandez possibly going? I don’t know whether Enzo Fernandez will leave, I have no idea.
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Fernandez’s Chelsea future remains in doubt (Picture: Getty)
‘If Fernandez, who along with Moises Caicedo, is their most experienced midfield player, do they feel they’re short in a bit of know-how in that particular area?
‘Also, both players [Welbeck and Henderson] are good pros. They’re not 35-year-olds that are messing about, five minutes here and five minutes there.
‘They’re both generally regarded as good people, good guys in the dressing room, experienced boys.’
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Townsend urged Chelsea supporters to get behind both Welbeck and Henderson if they ended up joining, claiming the duo could be what the club have been ‘crying out for’ all along.
‘They’ve done the Morgan Rogers deal so they’ve spent their big dough on a proper player,’ he went on.
‘Look, it was a lot of money but I still think Morgan Rogers is a very, very, very gifted player.
‘But these ones, I don’t think anyone should turn their nose up at a couple of older players, but the right type of older player. A good sort, good lads and they know the division inside out.
‘Maybe it’s something that Chelsea have been crying out for for a while.’
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