Joe Cole feels Chelsea should have gone 'really big' to make shock move for Liverpool star Arne Slot loves

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole believes the Stamford Bridge club should have made a shock move for Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk before the Dutchman signed a new contract at Anfield.

The two-time Premier League winner committed to a new contract with Liverpool in the latter stages of the 2024-25 season, with much discussion around his future throughout the course of last campaign.

The defender turns 35 in the summer and despite a drop in form this season, he is still considered one of the best defenders in the Premier League. Chelsea should not be put off by a player’s age, given the performances Thiago Silva was able to produce for the club in his mid-thirties.

Cole felt that while Van Dijk’s future was uncertain, Chelsea should have gone ‘really big’ to pull off a move for the ex-Celtic and Southampton man.

The Liverpool and Netherlands captain has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League with Liverpool. Cole feels Chelsea need more experienced winners in their side, and Van Dijk is certainly that.

The Blues have not won the Premier League since 2017, after winning five in 12 years between 2005 and 2017. They are all-but out of the title race this season and approaching 10 years without a league title.

“I would have gone down the road of going really big for Virgil van Dijk when he was coming to the end of his contract at Liverpool last summer,” he said via The Metro.

“You need seasoned winners in the side.”

Cole added: “I’d be looking at the PSG squad, which I think is bloated. Players who understand winning and know how and what it means to win.

“I don’t think Arsenal are going to be able to keep up with all their players, certain players there will be available at the end of the season.

“Unfortunately, none of the top, top players are going to be coming to Chelsea, because if they’re available, then the Man City’s, the Arsenal’s and the Liverpool’s will come calling and they will go there first.

“So Chelsea are still in their rebuilding phase.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is a big fan of Van Dijk and was full of praise for the player after he penned fresh terms at the club last spring.

Slot said at the time: "It's difficult to describe, you know how important he is when you see him as a player, everyone has complimented him over the years as a defender. I mostly watch football and look at possession. He is so, so good at bringing it out from the back.

"The diagonal passes, the through ball, the leader he is, that is something I haven't worked with before, the energy he brings to the team, how professional he is and how he tries to help his team-mates. The good thing with him, is he has attributes that help here at the AXA [Liverpool’s training ground].

"It's difficult [to play later] because I only judge the quality now. How did Thiago Silva play [for so long]? He has to stay fit. If a player is out two or three months, this is the highest level in football, the Premier League.

"It's hard for players to come back straight away at that level, so he has to stay fit. If he does, I see no reason why he would regress. The club feel the same."