Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has asserted that Chelsea FC must acquire two elite central defenders and an elite left-back in the upcoming January transfer window to bridge the gap with frontrunners like Arsenal FC and Manchester City in the Premier League.
Following a disappointing 10th-place finish last season that left the Stamford Bridge club out of the UEFA Champions League, the Blues have shown improvement, currently occupying the 5th spot in the league standings after 10 matches.
What did Steven Gerrard say about Chelsea's squad?
Speaking on the football podcast The Overlap Daily, the former England midfielder analyzed the squad's current limitations and stressed the urgency of defensive upgrades.
"With all due respect, I think for Chelsea to compete with your Arsenals, Man City, Liverpool, and the top end of the Champions League, I think they need to find world-class centre-backs and a world-class left-back," Gerrard stated during the broadcast.
Gerrard's remarks follow Chelsea's narrow 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in domestic league action over the weekend, a setback that highlighted ongoing defensive vulnerabilities as the campaign progresses toward the winter transfer period.