Joe Cole urges Chelsea to consider transfer moves for England duo and Barcelona star

Joe Cole has implored Chelsea to add greater experience to their squad in the summer, putting forward John Stones, Jordan Henderson and Robert Lewandowski as names who could come in and help develop younger members of the group.

Chelsea appear destined to miss out on Champions League qualification this season after a drastic decline in results under Liam Rosenior, which ultimately cost the manager his job, with the club now languishing down in ninth place in the Premier League table.

Though the Blues had looked to have been on the right tracks having won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup last summer, it appears a major overhaul is required if the west London giants are to return to their former glory.

The desperate situation has seen questions surrounding Chelsea’s youth-led transfer model intensify in recent weeks, with the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella publicly voicing their frustrations about decisions being made at the top.

But with Calum McFarlane overseeing first-team duties on an interim basis following Rosenior’s dismissal, the search for a full-time manager is perhaps paramount on Chelsea’s list of priorities with two league matches remaining of the campaign.

While victory in this year’s FA Cup final would provide some respite for the fanbase at the end of what has been a gruelling season, Cole believes it could be some time before the club are truly in a ‘healthy position’ again.

According to Cole, an audacious bid to bring back former manager Jose Mourinho would be the best possible move for Chelsea to get supporters back on side.

‘The best move the club could make now, a realistic move as well, is to go to Jose Mourinho,’ the former Chelsea and England winger told The Sun.

‘Say that this is what we can do, and just let the man take charge of the club. Just say, “Rebuild my club for me, we’re going to step back, you get us back on track.”

‘Give him a long contract, and tell the players and the fans just to take the transition.

‘Tell the fans, “We’ve given you what you want. Jose is in charge of bringing the players in. Jose is in charge of everything.”

‘So, the fans know where they stand, and the players know where they stand as a group. And then leave it.

‘It’s going to take a few years. But I’m pretty sure, in three years, Chelsea will be in a healthier position than they are now.

‘Everyone’s thinking he’s finished, but there’s a reason Real Madrid are looking at him.’

England defender Stones announced last month that this season would be his last with Manchester City, with the 31-year-old – a six-time Premier League winner at the Etihad – available on a free transfer.

Out-of-contract Barcelona striker Lewandowksi will be available as a free agent when the summer transfer window opens for business – and Cole feels both players would be perfect for a dressing room crying old for wise old heads.

‘Chelsea’s mandate was trying to buy the best players in the world, because we were trying to win every competition we could. And so, you knew where you were shopping. I don’t even know where Chelsea is shopping now, that’s the truth,’ he added.

‘Garnacho, for example, is clearly a talented footballer who needs to be in an environment where he’s not the main man, and he’s able to develop.

‘The thing is, it doesn’t work, then his confidence dips, and there’s no structure around him to help him, and he needs to help himself as well. So, what happens is these great young players are not in the right environment.

‘It’s like buying all the most talented scientists in the world and then putting them in a prep school without really good teachers. They’re not going to get better.

‘I think of experienced players who can come into the squad and help out immediately. So you’re looking at who’s available, I’m thinking players like John Stones. Lewandowski, he’s coming to the end of his contract, we need a centre forward.

‘He probably fancies the Premier League and living in London, give him a year-long contract to come and play 35 games for us and help out Liam Delap and help out Joao Pedro. They need those types of players.’

On other potential transfer targets for Chelsea in the summer, Cole went on: ‘Jordan Henderson, I said Jordan Henderson last season and people laughed.

‘Look at what Brentford Football Club have done, and nobody’s going, “Hold on a minute.”

‘I know he’s not been blowing the doors off on Match of the Day. But he sets the tone, and he’s helped players around him, all the untangible things you can’t see.

‘We spent all this money on young players, but they have no one around them.’

Chelsea brought their dismal losing streak to a halt earlier this weekend as Enzo Fernandez cancelled out Ryan Gravenberch’s stunning opener in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

The club remain ninth in the table, though, nine points adrift of fifth-placed Aston Villa ahead of their last remaining games of the top-flight campaign against Tottenham and Sunderland.

‘It’s a good point, a good performance in a game that could have gone either way,’ interim boss McFarlane said after the final whistle on Merseyside.

‘It was disappointing to concede so early, and it’s something we’ll have a look at.

‘But I was pleased with the response. I thought the reaction was brilliant and I knew it was something we could do.

‘I thought we played some really nice stuff, we finished the half really well. As a whole the effort, commitment, work rate and desire was good.

‘Last Monday [home defeat to Nottingham Forest] was disappointing. We reviewed it and spoke about the reaction we wanted. I felt we got that and it’s something we can build on.’

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