It is no secret that Chelsea fans want to see some experience and proven quality brought to the club during this summer transfer window. For the last four seasons, they have constantly invested in youngsters. And while some of them might be very good players, as a team, it just has not clicked yet.
A lot of football is about the intangibles. That is why a champion team like Liverpool can look completely out of sorts the very next season. It is about momentum, confidence levels, leadership and everything in between, not just quality and potential.
Chelsea’s youngsters might need some experienced players around them to guide them. They have missed that since Thiago Silva left. Tosin Adarabioyo cannot be the veteran presence in the dressing room if you want to compete for trophies.
Joe Cole has now suggested three veteran players who could add something to this Chelsea team. But the names might divide the opinion of the fanbase.
Joe Cole suggests three players
According to The Sun, the former Chelsea title winner said:
“I think of experienced players who can come into the squad and help out immediately. So you’re looking at who’s available, I’m thinking players like John Stones.
“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 and help out Liam Delap and help out Joao Pedro. They need those types of players.
“Jordan Henderson, I said Jordan Henderson last season and people laughed.
“Look at what Brentford Football Club have done, and nobody’s going, “hold on a minute.”
“I know he’s not been blowing the doors off on Match of the Day. But he sets the tone, and he’s helped players around him, all the untangible things you can’t see. We spent all this money on young players, but they have no one around them.”
So, John Stones, Robert Lewandoswki and Jordan Henderson are the three names suggested by Cole. Those are realistic targets for sure. But are they ones who will help Chelsea at this point in time.
Would the trio help Chelsea right now?
Incidentally, Chelsea were heavily linked with Stones when he broke through the ranks at Everton. That was over a decade ago. And he has backed up all that potential with what he has achieved over the course of his career. Now, he is a veteran leaving Manchester City. Will he add something to Chelsea? He most certainly will in terms of experience, but after how little he has played lately, there will be a worry as well.
There is not much that needs to be said about Lewandowski. On top of his game, he was the best in the world. But he is past his prime now. Expecting too much from him at this point would not be fair. That being said, given the chances, he could still be a decent backup option.
And the third is Henderson, another Premier League veteran. Would he be open to joining Chelsea owing to his history with Liverpool though?
If any of those three do come in, the expectation would not be for them to start every game. But they can add a lot to this dressing room and make those around them better.
