Paul Merson says Chelsea should plot a move for Wolves star midfielder Ruben Neves on the back of a slump in form from Thomas Tuchel’s men in recent weeks.
The Blues were held to a 1-1 stalemate by the Merseysiders Everton on Thursday night at the Bridge with the home side conceding a late leveller after playmaker Mason Mount had secured the opening goal.
Chelsea sit third in the league standings, four points adrift of the leaders Manchester City, and former Arsenal defender Merson reckons Tuchel should dip into the market for a new signing with Ruben Neves singled out by the pundit.
Neves has been an influential cog in the centre of the park for the Midlands outfit and is key to their superb run of form at the back which has seen them concede just 14 goals in 17 games in the league this campaign.
Speaking on Soccer Saturday ( via The Daily Express), Merson backed Chelsea to make a move for Neves’ signature with Southampton maestro James Ward-Prowse also mentioned as a viable name on the wishlist.
“I think Chelsea are missing a Neves.
“I think they’re missing a player who can spray the ball round the pitch.
“[Mateo] Kovacic likes taking players on, Jorginho won’t kick the ball further than 10 yards, just keeps it going, [N’Golo] Kante’s an all-around-the-pitch kind of player.
“They’ve got no one who sprays the ball around, like a [James] Ward-Prowse or a Neves.
“The amount of times the other night when they made runs, the front three, where they ran and then they spun, and no one’s hitting them, no one’s hitting them.
“That’s the problem for me, Chelsea need someone who’s spraying the ball about.”
