Since their takeover of Chelsea back in May 2022, BlueCo have come under huge fire in the media for their careless and erratic spending within the transfer market.
Over £1.4b has been spent on new additions in the last four years, with the vast majority of their investment going on young and unproven talent who can develop at Stamford Bridge.
At times, their recruitment has been successful, but it’s seen a huge turnover of players – ultimately resulting in a lack of consistency in the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso’s arrival has seen a shift in the strategy in West London, but it seems as though such a model is also coming under scrutiny.
Why Chelsea are turning their attention to Jordan Henderson
For years, Chelsea’s business has seen many analysts question the lack of senior experience in the senior ranks – with the average age of their squad last term just 23.5, the lowest in the division.
As a result, Alonso has targeted proven Premier League options since taking the reins, which has seen a move for Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson edge closer.
|
Lowest average of squads in the PL (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Team |
Age |
|
Chelsea |
23.5 |
|
Sunderland |
24.8 |
|
Tottenham Hotspur |
24.9 |
|
AFC Bournemouth |
25.1 |
|
Manchester City |
25.2 |
|
Brighton & Hove Albion |
25.5 |
|
Crystal Palace |
25.7 |
|
Arsenal |
25.8 |
The player has already agreed personal terms with the Blues and his current side are willing to terminate his contract to allow the 36-year-old to complete a free transfer.
Whilst he featured 32 times in England’s top-flight for the Bees last term, it’s unlikely that the former Liverpool star will have a regular place in the manager’s starting eleven.
As a result, he could take up a similar role to the one he filled with the England national team at the World Cup, which saw him play just six minutes across the entire tournament.
Former Chelsea and now England boss Thomas Tuchel credited Henderson for being a “natural leader” and “someone who sets the standards” – something which the Blues squad have desperately lacked in recent years.
Alonso has no doubt made the addition of experienced leaders a priority this summer, which is a huge factor in why the hierarchy are pursuing a move for the Englishman.
How Chelsea can land an instant upgrade on Henderson this summer
Despite the recent shift in recruitment strategy, BlueCo are still on the hunt for young prospects – but are now making sure they already have key Premier League experience under their belt.
Morgan Rogers is the greatest example of such a strategy, subsequently joining from Aston Villa for £117m, with the 24-year-old already making 85 appearances in England’s top-flight.
He may not be the only player to join for a mega transfer fee this summer, as Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott continues to be touted with a move to the Bridge.
Simon Phillips has provided the latest on a deal for the 22-year-old, stating fresh discussions have been held with Bournemouth after having an initial offer rejected.
He claims that Alonso’s side are pushing to land the Cherries star despite their reluctance to sell, which could see a deal reached if an £80m proposal is presented.
Such a move is unlikely to affect a potential move for Henderson, with BlueCo currently working on deals for both of the English midfielders this summer.
However, the 36-year-old’s game time could be further limited if a deal is agreed for Scott – with the youngster undoubtedly a more valuable asset for Alonso’s men.
In the Premier League last season, the 22-year-old completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst achieving a two-times higher dribbles completed rate.
Both of the aforementioned figures showcase his superb ability to dictate the play from a deep-lying position – a role which Henderson also operated in for the Bees last term.
Even without the ball, the Cherries star managed to dominate the experienced star, subsequently winning more ground duels and achieving a higher tally of defensive contributions per 90.
His tally of 6.2 ball recoveries made per 90 was higher than that of Henderson, but also ranked him above 88% of other deep-lying midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues.
Despite his deep-lying role, the youthful Scott often caught the eye with his box-crashing runs – which saw him net the winner over Arsenal at the Emirates back in early April.
At just 22, he has bags of time to reach the next level in his development under Alonso, with Henderson also able to use his leadership qualities to guide him to the top.
The 36-year-old will no doubt be an unpopular addition with the fanbase, but his experience could prove vital if the Blues are to mount a charge for the Premier League title.
Scott will no doubt be ahead of him in the pecking order should he move to West London, with the Englishman able to be the perfect option at the heart of the new manager’s side.
