Chelsea F.C. legend, Joe Cole, has urged the club to consider bold moves in the transfer market, suggesting free transfers for experienced stars Robert Lewandowski and John Stones could help stabilise the squad and strengthen its leadership core.
Cole believes both players would bring invaluable experience to a young Chelsea group, helping to repair what he sees as a fragile dressing-room culture while also supporting new manager Xabi Alonso in building a winning mentality.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the former England international said top-level experience is essential for sustained success, arguing that Chelsea need seasoned winners who can guide the team on and off the pitch.
“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.
“The current players 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.
“It just baffles me how people just don’t understand that. But hopefully, they (the Chelsea owners) have read the room and that’s the way they go now.
“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.”
Chelsea are also expected to face decisions over player sales after missing out on European competition revenue for next season, adding further pressure on the club’s squad planning this summer.
