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Chelsea urged to rethink transfer policy as ex-manager claims Blues need new John Terry
Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle has urged the Blues to sign defensive reinforcements during the summer transfer window.
Chelsea: Defeat to West Ham was ‘not a surprise’ says Lampard
Glenn Hoddle has suggested Chelsea need to sign a player who can replicate John Terry's influence in order to solve the club's' defensive issues. The former Blues midfielder and manager has criticised Frank Lampard's rearguard and hinted that priorities need to be changed ahead of the summer transfer window.
Chelsea saw their six-match unbeaten run ended on Wednesday when the Blues slipped to a shock 3-2 defeat against West Ham.
Willian scored twice for Lampard's side but goals from Tomas Soucek, Michail Antonio and Andriy Yarmolenko saw the west London outfit waste the chance to move up to third in the Premier League table.
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In particular, Hoddle was concerned about how Antonio Rudiger defended Yarmolenko's breakaway in the closing seconds and believes Chelsea are too vulnerable at the back.
Speaking on Premier League Daily, Hoddle said: "I’d be asking Rudiger if he knows that player. Because he knows Yarmolenko is left footed… have you looked at the videos before the game?
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"As he’s going over there it’s got to be running through his head, surely. But it didn’t look like it!
"Chelsea look better when a team is going to come onto them and they know they’re going to be out-possessioned – be it Liverpool or Manchester City, and they look nice and tight and compact and everyone knows their job.
"But when they try and open teams out they end up losing. Ten games [lost in the Premier League this season] is too many and it’s not against the top teams all the time. They do lack concentration with their defending."
Hoddle has suggested that a lack of leadership in central defence is a big issue and has called for Chelsea to strengthen in that area this summer.
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However, the Blues are currently focused on the pursuit of Kai Havertz after already securing deals for fellow attackers Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are also looking to sign Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell but Hoddle feels someone with real leadership qualities in central defence is required.
The 62-year-old referenced the character of Chelsea legend John Terry, who made over 500 appearances for the Blues during his 22 years at the club.
When asked about squad depth for this season and beyond, Hoddle said: "Chelsea have got a lot of work to do in qualifying for the Champions League and they’ve got the FA Cup to deal with as well… Frank will want to go all the way and win that.
"So he’s got the squad to deal with it but, for me, it’s quite a simple one: if you can’t score and you can’t create you’re worried as a manager.
"But he’s got loads of them [creative players] at the moment. I bet he doesn’t know what his best team is and next season he’s going to have even more!
"He’s got to look at 'How do we get a John Terry?' – which isn’t easy – or an experienced player in there who needs to defend properly but also organise people.
"They need to be organised when they’re on the attack with the ball. Someone needs to be pulling people around and they’ll cut half the goals they're conceding with a player like that but they’re not easy to come by either."