Six outdated gamers Chelsea can signal for ‘Dad’s Army’ with Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck
Chelsea are probably the most fun club to watch in the transfer market, if you don’t support them.
Since Todd Boehly arrived in May 2022, the club have spent over £1.5billion on new signings, with Morgan Rogers’ £117million switch from Aston Villa joining a host of young talent moving to Stamford Bridge this summer.
However, after losing Andrey Santos to Manchester United for £50million, it appears the Blues are attempting to replace him with 36-year-old Jordan Henderson. The Brentford midfielder is reportedly available to sign on a free this summer and Chelsea are in talks to snap up the former Liverpool captain.
But earlier on Monday, Chelsea’s pursuit of Brighton striker Danny Welbeck came to light, with Xabi Alonso seemingly wanting to add the 35-year-old’s wealth of experience to his front line.
Welbeck made his debut for Manchester United 18 years ago but recorded the best goalscoring season of his career last campaign, netting 13 Premier League goals. The veteran has reportedly agreed personal terms as fans were left wondering if they’d woken up in 2014 by mistake.
Chelsea are clearly looking to add experience to their largely youthful squad, and one player the Blues could move for if the Welbeck deal breaks down is Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood.
The 34-year-old Kiwi scored just three goals last year in an injury-hit season but 34 goals across his two previous campaigns in the top flight make the big target man an interesting short-term option.
Another old boy who has been linked to Chelsea this summer, Granit Xhaka, 33, was the subject of an £8million bid by the Blues earlier this window; however, the bid was rejected and a £25m price tag emerged.
But since then, manager Regis Le Bris has firmly stated that Xhaka will be staying on Wearside, just one season after his £17.3m move to the north-east last season, where the ex-Arsenal captain was a major part of their Europa League qualification side.
A further midfield alternative is former Liverpool defensive midfielder Fabinho. While the youngest on this list at 32, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was pushing 40s given his performances at the end of his Liverpool career.
The Brazilian has never been the quickest, but he wouldn’t have to be if he partnered Moises Caicedo in a deep midfield role. Fabinho is coming off another good season with Al-Ittihad and could look rejuvenated back in the Premier League, where he previously spent five years.
The biggest name on the list, and one Chelsea bosses wish they would never hear again, Mohamed Salah still remains a free agent, and the Blues could attempt to make up for their mistake by re-signing him.
The 34-year-old remains without a club after leaving Liverpool and a blockbuster return to Stamford Bridge 10 years after leaving would be incredible. Chelsea aren’t blessed with game-changing out-and-out wingers and Salah could finally turn it on in blue rather than red.
The west London outfit have four goalkeepers all in the mix of being first-choice, but for all the money they’ve spent, none of them are good enough. Robert Sanchez held down the No.1 spot last season with a handful of excellent displays, but disaster is always around the corner.
So why don’t the Blues move for 33-year-old Emi Martinez, who is again looking to leave Aston Villa this summer. After his move to Manchester United broke down last summer, Juventus and PSG are interested in his signature, and Chelsea could actually conclude good business by signing the Argentine for less than £10m.
Lastly, a name football nerds will know, Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura would fit the ‘Dad’s Army’ Chelsea rebuild perfectly.
The 59-year-old made his debut in 1986 for Santos and was still playing top-flight in Japan as recently as 2021. Now in the third tier, Miura would certainly add the experience the Blues are after, although he hasn’t hit double figures in a season since 2001.
