Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Joe Cole makes positive transfer prediction for Chelsea - ‘three or four quality players’
CHELSEA will back their youth policy but still splash the cash when they are able to sign players again.
That is the opinion of former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole.
The Blues were banned from signing players in the summer, a ban that will continue into the January transfer window.
That has led to new head coach Frank Lampard having to utilise the club’s well-stocked academy.
Chelsea suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at Manchester United to start the Premier League season.
Frank will be able to go and inject three or four quality players
But Cole still believes his former side are heading in the right direction.
He claims there is an aim to bring more stability to Chelsea, which Lampard is looking to implement with younger players.
However, Cole says Lampard will look to sign three or four players next summer when the transfer ban is lifted.
“I’m very optimistic for Frank and the club,” Cole said on BT Sport.
“The perception around from the punters and from the media is that Frank will get time, he will get time to implement what he wants to do.
“There’s a change of tack for Chelsea.
“Chelsea have won things continuously by sacking managers, bringing players in, there’s been a lot of turnover of players.
“We’re going into a situation now, I feel, where the club have gone ‘right, we’ve invested heavily in this academy system, some are out on loan, some are still in the academy, we’ve got Frank, we’ve got young coaches, we’re going to build something, we’re going to put something in the basement, we’re going to put something to steady and make this club a little bit more aligned’ with maybe how the Man City model is, where they seem to be very steady and stable.
“Also the gaffer, when he gets the chance to spend money again, he will.
“We’ve seen that over the last 15 years, Chelsea have spent money.
“As soon as that happens, Frank will be able to go and inject three or four quality players.
“When that time comes what we need is a Chelsea team that’s stable, a philosophy or playing, a culture, everything embedded, and then you can go and buy the little stars and the gems and put them within the system.”