Former Chelsea star Joe Cole believes a return for Marc Guehi is a remarkably obvious move for his old club, a sentiment echoing through football discussions.
However, the path back to Stamford Bridge isn’t clear. Reports suggest Barcelona is now aggressively pursuing the 25-year-old defender, positioning themselves as frontrunners in the chase.
Barcelona’s advantage lies in their ability to initiate pre-contract negotiations with Guehi as early as January, a significant head start over other potential suitors like Liverpool.
Rumors indicate Barcelona has already made two formal offers to Guehi’s representatives within the last two weeks, demonstrating their serious intent.
Cole, however, passionately argues for Chelsea to prioritize Guehi, believing his experience and leadership would be invaluable to the team’s developing core.
Guehi spent 14 formative years within Chelsea’s academy system, possessing an intimate understanding of the club’s culture and expectations – a factor Cole emphasizes as crucial.
“He’s someone you bang the doors down for to sign,” Cole stated, highlighting Guehi’s potential to immediately impact the squad and mentor younger players.
Despite his strong conviction, Cole acknowledges Chelsea’s current transfer strategy might preclude a move for Guehi, as the club appears focused on acquiring even younger talent.
Cole also expressed reservations about making significant signings during the January transfer window, suggesting Chelsea is currently on the right track despite a recent setback.
He pointed to the 3-1 defeat against Leeds United as a stark reminder that consistent performance, even after impressive displays like the one against Arsenal, is paramount for genuine title contention.
The Leeds match, Cole argued, exposed a vulnerability – the difficulty of recovering from an early deficit against a well-prepared opponent in a historically challenging environment.
Chelsea now turns its attention to a Saturday clash against AFC Bournemouth, currently sitting fourth in the league table after 14 games played.
