Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris has cast doubt on the club's ability to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, admitting that the Blues are not yet in a position to compete with Arsenal and Liverpool for such a high-profile target. Speaking to Sky Sports, Morris expressed his admiration for Barcola but stressed that Chelsea must first re-establish themselves as a regular top-four side before pursuing players of that calibre.
Morris: Chelsea can't yet attract Barcola
Morris, who made over 100 appearances for Chelsea and later served as Frank Lampard's assistant, said he would 'love' to see Barcola at Stamford Bridge but conceded that the club's recent struggles make such a transfer unrealistic. 'I would have loved to have been in a position where we can go after Barcola,' he said. 'But I said this previously, I was really surprised that we managed to get Morgan Rogers through the door when he's playing for a team that's already in the Champions League and reportedly had the champions of England [Arsenal] after him as well. I was really surprised that we managed to get him through the door so I think it would be wishful thinking if we were then able to get another player of that ilk who has just won the Champions League twice.'
Barcola, who has won the Champions League twice with PSG, is rated at £145 million and has attracted interest from both Liverpool and Arsenal. Liverpool are currently believed to be leading the chase, while Arsenal are monitoring the situation as their hopes of signing Vinicius Junior fade. Chelsea had previously been linked with the French winger, but Morris believes the club's pulling power is not yet at the level required.
Morris: Top-four must come first
When asked if adding Barcola would make Chelsea title challengers, Morris was emphatic: 'No, I don't think so. I think we need to start establishing ourselves as a top-four, regular team that is maybe going to be trying to make improvements from where we've been previously. The underperforming nature of the group last year was so far away off where we should be.'
Morris highlighted the inconsistency that plagued Chelsea last season, saying: 'We need to be building a bit of consistency, particularly from how mature our performances are within games. The change from the first half to second half, whether it be good in the first and poor in the second, or vice versa, was so vast in so many games. The consistency levels is the most important thing that we need to start getting up to what Chelsea are expecting.'
Experience signings praised but concerns remain
Despite his reservations about Barcola, Morris was full of praise for Chelsea's new signings Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, who bring a combined total of nearly 1,000 Premier League appearances. The Blues have also secured a £117 million move for Morgan Rogers and signed Italy right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta, with Racing Santander left-back Pep Chavarria expected to follow.
Morris believes the experience of Henderson and Welbeck will be invaluable, but he is unsure how much influence they can have if they are not regular starters. 'I do think adding your Jordan Hendersons and your Danny Welbecks is great for the group as a whole,' he explained. 'I really like Jordan Henderson and I really like Danny Welbeck, but I wouldn't have minded a little bit more experience in the starting XI. I'm not too sure that those two players will be starting week in, week out, and I think that can dilute the influence you can have on the group a bit. They'll still be amazing to have around the place, particularly Jordan Henderson. He's someone who can have a huge influence on not just the younger players but the club as a whole. We're certainly not worse off than what we were without those players, but sometimes adding that experience in maybe your guaranteed six, seven, eight starters in the team is a little bit more important.'
Context: Chelsea's summer overhaul
Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Chelsea have shifted away from their youth-led transfer policy after a dismal tenth-place finish last season. The signings of Welbeck and Henderson, combined with the big-money capture of Rogers, signal a change in direction. However, Morris's comments suggest that the club may still be some way off competing with the Premier League's elite for the very best talent.
