I want to start by saying that I totally appreciate that not everyone shares my views here, and that’s totally fine and I totally respect that. Football is a game of opinions, and not all of us think the same.
But for me personally I think this summer, and even January, is the time for Chelsea to start revamping the midfield.
Today I have seen rumors that Jorginho rejected a new contract offer and asked for a higher salary, and similar stories with N’Golo Kante in recent weeks as well. Personally, he wouldn’t even be talking about new terms to extend any of the players, he’d be letting them go as free agents in the summer.
It’s not that I don’t rate them or love them, I fully respect and appreciate what both players do and bring to the table. But I am so passionate and uncompromising that now is the right time for Chelsea to revamp our midfield if we really want to go ahead and catch those at the top.
Jorginho Seeks Salary Increase As Chelsea Submit New Contract Offer
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We need to bring in some more complete midfielders. We need athletic, fast, robust, physical and technical players. Not just midfielders who offer one or two of those things. We also need a true defensive midfielder.
Jorginho, I appreciate what he does, but we often get exposed in defense and on the counterattacks because of his lack of defensive awareness, pace and athleticism. And Kante now for me is too injury prone.
He has played two Premier League games so far this season and turns 32 in March, that is only going to get worse. Come the end of December, we’ll be lucky if he’s doubled it to four Premier League appearances. He loves the man, but it’s time to move on. Out with the old and in with the new.
What I’d be doing is bringing in a replacement in January so they can settle in and pick up the reins, and then another one in the summer. I wouldn’t want inexperienced players, because you can’t replace such experienced players without taking that into account. But as I say, we need a balance of all the necessary attributes in our midfield, an area that for me is currently our most pressing area and one that we need to improve massively if we want to catch the leading clubs in world football.
That’s just my opinion. You have every right to yours, and I fully respect and honor it.
