top of page

Joe Cole questions Chelsea's decision to sell former academy star who is now thriving for his new club

Barnaby Lane
Joe Cole.
Joe Cole. (Deposit Photos)

Chelsea legend Joe Cole has hit out at his former club's "frustrating" decision to sell Marc Guehi to Crystal Palace in 2021. Guehi came through Chelsea's academy, but made just two senior appearances before being sold to the Eagles for a fee of £18 million.


The 24-year-old has since proven himself to be one of the Premier League's top centre backs and has also become a regular for England, playing a starring role in their route to the final of last year's European Championships. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea now want to bring Guehi back to Stamford Bridge to help solve their injury crisis in defence.

Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi.
Marc Guehi has been a star for Crystal Palace. (Deposit Photos)

Wesley Fofana is expected to miss the remainder of the season having torn his hamstring Chelsea's 3-0 win over Aston Villa last month, while Benoit Badiashile is also out until at least February with a hamstring problem.

Romano claims that a January move for Guehi "has already been discussed and considered internally" at Chelsea, and that a return to West London for the defender is now a real "possibility."


Cole, who made 282 appearances for Chelsea between 2003 and 2010, said that he would love to see Guehi back at the Bridge, but that he should have never been sold in the first place. "The priority for Chelsea is in central defence," Cole told Paddy Power when asked where he thinks the Blues need to strengthen this month. "It’s so frustrating for Chelsea because they’ve sold someone like Marc Guehi, and he’s gone on to become a top centre half."


"Guehi is a proper player and he’s in England’s starting line up now and Chelsea are going to have to fork out to get him back," he added. "It’s just frustrating that they need to go and buy players that they’ve sold." "Chelsea do it far too often," Cole said.

Enzo Maresca.
Enzo Maresca. (Deposit Photos)

Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Palace and Guehi at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The result extended the Blues' winless run in the Premier League to four games, having previously lost to Ipswich Town and Fulham, and drawn with Everton. Reflecting on his side's recent dip in form after the draw with Palace, Maresca said: "This moment of the season is going to happen for any team in any season, that you have some moment when you are not able to win games."


Chelsea will be expected to return to winning ways when they welcome League 2 side Morecambe to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

Commentaires


bottom of page