Former Chelsea defender William Gallas believes Thomas Tuchel’s side will finish inside the Premier League top four at the expense of Liverpool, and has told the club not to sign Frenkie de Jong.
Chelsea opened their 2022/23 Premier League account last weekend with a 1-0 win over Everton to get them off to a winning start following a challenging pre-season.
New signing Raheem Sterling knows pre-season isn’t a realistic assessment of where the squad can go as they gear up to face Spurs at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
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"Pre-season was an up and down one in terms of results and what the manager wanted, but pre-season isn't real and we try to build on that,” admitted the 27-year-old.
Chelsea are in a battle with Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Arsenal to clinch a Champions League qualification spot come the end of the season, and Gallas thinks Tuchel and co will beat Jurgen Klopp’s Reds to a top four finish.
Speaking to Genting Casino, Gallas said: “As an ex-London player, I have to say Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham to win the Premier League.
“On top four, Liverpool can miss out because they don't have Sadio Mane anymore and Diaz does not have the same impact. Liverpool always concede goals too, like we saw against Fulham. Even if I like how Liverpool play, I think it will be City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.”
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Off the pitch, Chelsea are in talks to bolster their squad and have been speaking with Barcelona over duo Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - two players who Tuchel wants to bring to the club.
Whether Chelsea can pull deals off for either or both remains unclear with just under three weeks of the summer transfer window to go, but Gallas has told his former side to ignore De Jong, however has backed the signing of Aubameyang.
Gallas added: “De Jong is a great player. He is still young but he is so experienced in the way he plays.
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"I don’t think Chelsea should have gone for someone of that profile though. They already have players like him.
“They should go for someone like Casemiro or Rodri instead. They are strong guys who stay in front of their defenders. They have good impacts physically as well.
"That is why I would not sign De Jong, because they already have players who are a little bit similar."
On the striker situation in west London following the departure os Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, Gallas continued: “Chelsea should have known they had to sign a striker a few months ago.
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"I don’t know why they are mainly linked with defenders when Lukaku did not stay and Timo Werner did not perform well over his two years at Chelsea.
“If Aubameyang can leave Barcelona, he would be good but he only just joined them.
"I would take Aubameyang though, as he is really experienced in the Premier League, and he will fit in straight away with the players.”
Topics: Chelsea, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Frenkie De Jong, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Barcelona