Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has given his thoughts on the type of signing Chelsea should be looking to make this summer.
The Blues have been the busiest Premier League club so far in this window. Several players have already left, including Marc Cucurella who joined Real Madrid for £52 million.
Attention must remain on new additions, though. Xabi Alonso is in charge and needs multiple signings in order to truly implement his ideas.
Defence will be the priority position with the side needing to add some much-needed experience and quality at the back, and Hasselbaink thinks the perfect player is one who's available on a free transfer.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink wants Chelsea to sign England star
John Stones confirmed his departure from Manchester City at the end of last season.
The 32-year-old left the Etihad with multiple honours to his name, including the UEFA Champions League and six Premier League titles.
Now available on a free transfer, Stones could prove to be a shrewed signing for any club looking to bring in genuine quality, leadership and experience.
"I would love to see him (Alonso) go and get (John) Stones, who is a free agent," Hasselbaink told Who Scored (via Metro).
"Everybody will say, 'Oh, but he’s injured a lot'. I think this year he will be a very good buy for Chelsea because Chelsea doesn’t play in the Champions League or in Europe, so it’s from Saturday to Saturday.
"He will have more rest, and he brings a lot of experience as well. So he can at least play 30 matches."
During his 10 years with the Citizens, Stones made 295 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 and assisting nine goals.
Kill two birds with one Stones
Due to the Blues' need to work within the confines of PSR, as well as managing not being playing European football next season, they have to be relatively creative in the transfer market.
Currently preparing for a World Cup semi-final against Argentina, Stones, having played a major role for England this summer, has proven he can still perform at the very highest level.
The Barnsley-born centre-back is not only capable of playing at the heart of a defence, he can also influence midfield.
Arguably one of England's best-ever ball-playing centre-backs, Stones has continually shown his technical ability throughout his career. He really is the type of player Alonso loves to work with.
However, when it comes to possible suitors, the 32-year-old probably won't be short, and there is a hurdle Chelsea would need to overcome.
His last contract at Manchester City saw him earn over £300,000-per week. It's likely he'll expect the same kind of deal from his next club, so although he's available on a free transfer, he would still require a significant investment.
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