(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media / Imago)

Ben Palmer

Sat 26 April 2025 18:05, UK

Enzo Maresca is keen to add more experience to his Chelsea squad and an update on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins being the answer has now emerged.

The Blues have the youngest average age of any squad in the Premier League, and their lack of experience has shown this season.

Having started brightly by keeping pace with Liverpool at the top of the league, Chelsea trailed off during the Christmas period, suffering surprising defeats at the hands of Fulham and Ipswich.

The Blues’ recruitment strategy in recent years has been incredibly youth-centric, as evidenced by the signings of Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, who won’t join Maresca’s squad until 2026, and Estavao Willian from Palmeiras.

Whilst Chelsea have missed out on Virgil van Dijk who signed a contract extension to stay at Liverpool, a number of other experienced players may be available this summer including Watkins.

However, a deal for the Villa striker remains unlikely to happen, according to The Telegraph.

Chelsea unlikely to make bid for Ollie Watkins

Watkins’ future at Villa is up in the air, after the former Brentford striker was benched in several of the Midlands side’s biggest games this season.

Marcus Rashford was the preferred option in both legs against PSG, and the Man United loanee also started up top against Man City on Tuesday (22 April).

Ex-West Ham manager Alan Pardew suggested Watkins would be “really hurt”, after being left out, and Arsenal may look at Watkins this summer after having a bid turned down in January, Alan Hutton told Football Insider exclusively.

However, despite Maresca wanting to add more experience to his young squad, it is unlikely to lead to a big for Watkins, nor other veteran stars such as Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, according to the Telegraph.

The Villa striker turns 30 at the end of the year and whilst his goal-scoring numbers are good, they have declined from last season.

Whilst Watkins started against Crystal Palace in the semi-final of the FA Cup, there remain doubts over his long-term place in Unai Emery’s squad.

Kane is considered prohibitively expensive in terms of wages despite a transfer release clause in his Bayern Munich contract, while Premier League clubs are said to have “attitude concerns” around Nigerian superstar Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.

Enzo Maresca is right, Chelsea need more experience in their squad

Football Insider Verdict

Take one look at any side succeeding in Europe right now and you will see squads like Chelsea’s full of young talent.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is one of the best young talents in the world, whilst ex-Chelsea man Jamal Musiala is the heartbeat of Bayern Munich.

Closer to home, Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka are match-winners for Arsenal more often than not, whilst Ryan Gravenberch has been transformative for Liverpool.

However, the difference between Chelsea and Europe’s best is that whilst those youngsters are key pieces, the core of those teams is built on experience.

For every Yamal, there is a Robert Lewandowski or Inigo Martinez. Liverpool have Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, whilst Bayern Munich support Musiala with Joshua Kimmich and Harry Kane.

Buying the best young talent in the world is not a bad plan, but as shown with Chelsea’s downfall this year, you need experience when talent is not enough.