William Gallas has urged Chelsea to press ahead with a deal for England defender and Arsenal transfer target John Stones.
Stones played an important role for Thomas Tuchel’s side over the summer, starting three games in England’s run to the semi-finals despite an injury-affected campaign with Manchester City.
However, the centre-back now faces an uncertain future at club level after he left City at the end of the last season following ten years at the club.
Stones’ performances at the World Cup are likely to attract the attention of several top clubs who are seeking to add an experienced defender to their ranks.
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Reigning Premier League champions Arsenal are one club that have been linked with a move for Stones, particularly after news that William Saliba will be out for an extended period due to a back injury.
Chelsea have also been credited with interest in Stones, and former Blues defender Gallas believes that the 32-year-old would add some invaluable experience to Xabi Alonso’s backline.
‘Some people are surprised [with Chelsea’s links to John Stones]. I don’t understand how they can be surprised,’ he told iPredicta.
‘Chelsea have got to speak with John Stones. Of course they have to go to get him. They won’t have to pay a lot of money because he’s a free agent.
‘He’s got everything. He has got experience. He has already won the Premier League. He won the Champions League.
‘So it’s the best option right now; otherwise, you have to put a lot of money on one defender, and you are not really sure he will adapt to the Premier League. I think it would be great for both parties.’
On the value that Stones’ experience could bring to Chelsea’s young defence, Gallas added: ‘The players who are going to play around him are going to grow up, are going to progress.
‘I always spoke about this and I always repeat myself: for central defenders, you always need one experienced player because at the same time that player is teaching the boys who are next to him, for the young boys to grow up, to improve, to be a better defender, to take all the pressure off their shoulders.
‘It’s better that the pressure is on the shoulders of that experienced player than the youth.
‘Look at Chelsea’s defenders, like Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana. They haven’t looked like the answer for the long-term. Okay, Colwill was injured, and he was improving when he was with Thiago Silva, you know?
‘And then Silva left, and then another boy was the main guy, but they made some mistakes because they were not ready yet. They started to play very young, and they put pressure on them too soon.’
Chelsea are already poised to sign one central defender after the club struck a £52m deal with Crystal Palace for Maxence Lacroix.
The Frenchman is set to undergo a medical on Friday before putting pen to paper on a deal at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, the club could look to sell Trevoh Chalobah, who has attracted interest from Como.
The Italian club have made a second offer totalling £25m, although Chelsea value the 27-year-old at closer to £30m.
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