Chelsea will not go after Kevin De Bruyne this summer despite their want for more experience - but did considering signing Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk before he signed a new contract
Chelsea are not poised to table an offer to Kevin De Bruyne - despite Enzo Maresca being keen to add more experience to his Blues squad. The Belgian will leave Manchester City this summer and is available on a free.
De Bruyne has proved to be among the Premier League's greatest foreign players and was once on Chelsea's books, but they opted to let him leave as a youngster before he returned to England with City. The playmaker is now 33 and there are concerns over how he and Cole Palmer would fit into the same team.
Maresca's transfer plans are likely to be influenced by whether or not Chelsea end up qualifying for the Champions League with five teams eyeing three spots in the final weeks of the season.
The west Londoners did consider a move for Virgil van Dijk before he penned a new contract with Liverpool. The Dutchman is also 33, the same as De Bruyne, but they felt he had not began slowing down at the same rate as the Belgian, reports the Telegraph.
Rather than targeting older players such as De Bruyne Chelsea are looking to ensure that whoever they sign this summer has plenty of first-team games under their belt with experience coming ahead of their age.
Maresca has said: "I think next year our squad will have more experience and then we can be better. For sure, when you have experience you have something more, no doubt, but the ones that struggle this year in terms of experience, they have already one more year in terms of experience. Next year they can be better.”
Chelsea are being linked with the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, who is closing in on 100 games for Everton, and is very much a regular in the Premier League. The club though know that their summer spending will depend solely on whether they can account for Champions League revenue.
Maresca said: "According to today’s rules, you have to be careful how much you spend. So it will be a completely different kind of target if we finish in the Champions League.”
De Bruyne meanwhile has underlined his desire to keep playing at the top level. The Belgian admits he was surprised that City opted to part ways with him, but insists he still has plenty to offer. There is interest from the MLS and the Saudi Pro League but the playmaker could equally remain in Europe.
Aston Villa have reportedly held internal talks about potentially going after the veteran star, who is a two-time PFA Player of the Year winner.