Pochettino URGED to sign Real Madrid duo by Chelsea legend

Cameron Smith

• 19 Mar 2024 22:38 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea legend Joe Cole has asked his former club to consider signing Real Madrid pair Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to help the young players in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

The Blues are currently 11th in the Premier League table after a difficult start to the 2023-24 league campaign, but they reached the Carabao Cup final and are set to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final in April.

Pochettino has repeatedly stressed that his current team are undergoing a long-term project that won’t guarantee instant success, but Cole believes his squad would be helped by the addition of several older heads.

Thiago Silva, 39, is the most experienced member of Chelsea’s first-team, while Raheem Sterling is the second oldest outfield player at Stamford Bridge, despite only being 29 years old.

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What has Joe Cole said?

Speaking to TalkSPORT, former Chelsea midfielder Cole said: “It’s a transitional time for the club, we know that.

“There are young players and watching them develop, when I watch them play, I want to get on there with them. I want to help them. There is so much talent there, so much potential.

Cole was then asked whether Chelsea should consider signing some experienced heads to help guide their young stars. The Blues legend replied: “I think it would help. If I was advising the board, I’d say that we’ve bought these youngsters, spent a lot of money on them, they’re all getting better.

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“Great, we’re improving, but 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, they can come in and out and set standards within the group.

“I think that would help the club as a whole. But we’ll see where this journey goes with them.”

Cole continued: “I’d be looking to maybe bring in some experienced players to set the tone.

“Does Luka Modric 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 is 34 but does he want to test himself at his age, coming over here and helping out this young squad?”