Chelsea ‘want to sign the next John Terry’ as transfer plan revealed
Chelsea are aiming to sign “the next John Terry” amid increasing concerns about their lack of defensive stability under Enzo Maresca.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the Blues are aiming to strengthen their defensive options in the summer.
However, they also need to sign a leader who will demand a certain level of performance from each of their players and will not let standards drop.
Brown explained that the current Chelsea back line lacks the fight and steel that they have seen from teams under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge.
Instead, Maresca’s side is facing constant questions about their lack of structure and stability which has also piled further pressure onto his position.
Brown told Football Insider on 20 February that defensive improvements must be made quickly or Maresca will face the sack at Chelsea.
Chelsea plot move to sign new centre-back after Murillo failure
Brown previously told Football Insider that Chelsea are prioritising the signing a new centre-back in the summer, after missing out on Nottingham Forest star Murillo.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that they are still missing the presence of Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger at the back.
“I’m never convinced about Chelsea defensively,” he told Football Insider.
“And it was the same at the weekend, they were 1-0 up against Aston Villa but you never felt like they were going to be able to keep them out.
“They really miss Rudiger and Silva – I know they can’t go on forever, but they set a level and a standard that Chelsea should be aiming to stay at.
“They can play some neat football, but they need some backbone in there.
“They really need somebody like a John Terry who is going to set certain expectations and demand more of his teammates defensively.
“Whatever it is, I don’t see that steel in this Chelsea team.
“It’s going to be a really key issue for them because they need to sign somebody who brings that.
“Strengthening their defence is absolutely crucial if they want to be title challengers, but they also need somebody to set standards and raise the expectations.”
Enzo Maresca to overhaul his defence at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s potential defensive changes are not expected to just cover incoming signings, but some of their current options could also leave the club to make way.
Brown told Football Insider on 20 February that Chelsea will let Trevoh Chalobah leave in the summer in an effort to raise money to fund his replacement.
This comes after the 25-year-old was surprisingly recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace in January to provide defensive cover amid a series of concerns at Stamford Bridge.
Now, though, it seems he will be moved on yet again as the Blues attempt to revamp their defensive unit by spending bid in the transfer market.
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