Pundit tells Chelsea to sign former flop who is available this summer amid 'leader' issue

Chelsea have been told to sign a former flop this summer in what would be one of the bolder Premier League signings of the summer. The Blues are at a pivotal point of their season, still in the race for Champions League football but in rotten form.

The Blues are in sixth place, one point behind Manchester City in fifth, which we now know is a Champions League spot this season. Enzo Maresca’s men have won just two of their last five games, and that is not top for - or five - form heading into the final games of the season.

While Maresca has managed improvements this season, the Blues seem to have a mentality problem, and former winger Joe Cole believes there may be a fix to the situation, with Manchester City’s serial title winner Kevin De Bruyne available on a free transfer this summer.

Cole said on TalkSPORT: “If I’m Chelsea and I’m sitting around with them [the board], I’m going, ‘we need experienced players’. He’s been injured a bit, but what he gives the changing room as a winner, as a leader, we might only need him for 30 games a season, we can manage him.

“Imagine him walking through the door with those young players and those difficult moments. I would say, ‘whatever you want, we’ll write it off’. Come and play for us for two years.”

De Bruyne is now 33 years of age, and his injury record could make him a risky signing, also keeping in mind that the midfielder famously had a failed spell at Stamford Bridge between 2012 and 2014. The Belgian went on to superstardom after that, but he is now in the final years of his career, and given his association with City, it may be a tricky deal to pull off, with a move abroad perhaps more likely.

Speaking about his failed Chelsea spell, the Belgian once said: “Wolfsburg was different because I just wanted a new challenge and not be loaned out because that system is really tough for people. They don’t always understand – when you do a few loan spells and come back to the team you know people are still doubting, saying ‘he’s a young player, is he going to make it.’

“In my mind I had played four years in Belgium, a year in Germany, had 160-180 games under my belt plus national team experience, so you’re not thinking like a young boy at 18 anymore who is just happy to get a game. I didn’t get a chance at Chelsea and I decided I needed a new team. Wolfsburg really wanted me.”

What De Bruyne and Guardiola have said

Confirming his City exit recently, De Bruyne said: “Football led me to all of you -- and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city. This club. These people... gave me everything. I had no choice but to give everything back! And guess what -- we won everything.

"Whether we like it or not, it's time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michèle, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. 'Manchester' will forever be on our kids' passports -- and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our home."

Meanwhile, City boss Guardiola has said of the midfielder’s impending departure: “It's a sad day. What he gives all of us which is humanity and of course, I don't have to tell you his influence on our success in the last decade -- it would be impossible to imagine without him, It's a sad day because a part of us is leaving. When Vincent [Kompany] left or Sergio [Agüero] or David [Silva] left -- these players that have made such a big contribution -- it's a sad day.

"We still have 10 games and hopefully 11, six games at home, that we can enjoy with our fans and he will get I'm pretty sure, the love and recognition that he deserves. He is one of the greatest Premier League players ever and at this club, there is no doubt about that. You always have to be careful when you say greatest out of respect for the players that have played in the last 20-30 years at this club but there is no doubt he is one of the greatest for sure. His consistency in important games and every three games being there all the time, there is no doubt."

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