Former Chelsea forward Joe Cole has urged Todd Boehly to look at signing more experienced players in the summer transfer window, naming Real Madrid midfield duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as potential options.
The Blues’ transfer strategy in the market in the last 18 months has been focused on bringing youngsters to Stamford Bridge on multi-year contracts.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto, Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke are all 23 or younger and have committed their long-term futures at the club.
However, since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s takeover in 2022, fortunes on the field have been far from what is expected. Last season ended with Chelsea finishing 12th in the Premier League and they are on course to finish mid-table once again.
The upcoming transfer window is another opportunity for the club to improve the playing squad at Stamford Bridge. And Cole believes they should be targeting more-experienced players instead of emerging talent.
“If I were advising the [Chelsea] board, I’d say we’ve bought these youngsters and spent a lot of money on them,” he told talkSPORT. “They’re all getting better; great, we’re improving.
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“Why don’t we sprinkle some good-quality, experienced players into the group over the next few years? They don’t have to play every game, but they can help…
“I’d be looking to bring in some experienced players who set the tone. I’m thinking Luka Modric. Does he want to come and play in the Premier League for one more year? He’s still doing bits at Real Madrid. How much has he helped [Eduardo] Camavinga. [Aurelien] Tchouameni, [Federico] Valverde? He would have had such an influence on them as players.
“Toni Kroos he’s 34. Does he want to test himself at his age coming over here and helping out this young squad?
“They’re just names I’ve thrown off the top of my head. I don’t know their situation.”
Modric, 38, is out of contract at Real Madrid at the end of the season while Kroos, 34, has been a great mentor for Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni in the last 12 months.
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