Chelsea’s summer transfer strategy has been blasted with Arsenal set to claim bragging rights over their Premier League rivals.
The Blues are eyeing a title challenge next season, but Thomas Tuchel’s squad requires reinforcements if they are to close the gap on Manchester City and Manchester United.
So far, the Stamford Bridge side have focused their efforts on signing a new striker, with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane both being eyed.
Next on the shopping list appears to be a new central midfield and more support in the fullback areas, but according to Danny Mills, they are overlooking one key position.
Thomas Tuchel’s summer transfer strategy has been criticised
According to the former Manchester City defender, the Blues should be making a new centre-back one of the priorities this summer.
While this may seem puzzling after Chelsea conceded only 12 goals in the 26 Premier League matches that Tuchel took charge of, defence does seem to be a weak point in their squad.
Tuchel can currently call on Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen as out-and-out centre backs.
But Silva’s injury problems last term, coupled with a desire to include Cesar Azpilicueta in the side, saw the right-back utilised in the back three.
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But if they are to truly mount a challenge for the title next term, it may be better for the Blues to focus on adding a new centre-back to their squad, rather than sign a back-up for Reece James.
One of the top central defenders who has been available this summer is Ben White, who is edging closer to joining Arsenal.
While Chelsea were reportedly at one point interested in White, only the Gunners have lodged bids for him.
And Mills has questioned why the Blues did not cement their interest in White, stating he would be a clear improvement on Christensen.
Should Chelsea have tried harder to sign Ben White? Comment below.
“If you go Haaland or Kane, job done, good chance of winning the league. You’ve got to be realistic about that,” Mills told talkSPORT.
“Defensively they’re very strong. Going back to my point about Ben White, Chelsea not being interested?
“Ben White’s got to be better than Andreas Christensen, surely. I think so and Arsenal fans probably think that they wouldn’t swap Ben White for Andreas Christensen.”
Mills also believes that White would be the perfect signing for the Blues and would likely prefer a move to Stamford Bridge over one to the Emirates Stadium.
“This is what I was talking about. I’m a little bit surprised that more top four clubs, bigger clubs are irrelevant, more successful clubs in recent seasons has come in for Ben White,” he added.
“Because if Chelsea do want a centre-back, he’d slot in there perfectly. He can play in a two, he can play in a three, he can play in midfield if he had to, he’s a good defender and he’s great on the ball.
“And from his perspective, he’d be playing Champions League football, possibly a chance of winning it, and a chance of winning the Premier League.”
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