Joe Cole says Chelsea should have made stunning transfer bid for Liverpool star

Former Chelsea and Liverpool winger Joe Cole (Picture: Getty)

Joe Cole believes Chelsea missed a trick by not trying to sign Virgil van Dijk last season before he agreed a contract extension at Liverpool .

Van Dijk has been virtually an ever-present figure at the heart of the Reds’ defence since joining from Southampton in January 2018,

The Dutchman, now captain of the side, has helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time on Merseyside .

As Arne Slot ’s side cruised to the league title last season, there were doubts over Van Dijk’s long-term future at the club, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2025.

But Van Dijk ended that speculation by eventually agreeing a new two-year extension to his deal prior to the end of the season.

The 34-year-old never appeared to truly entertain the possibility of leaving Liverpool, but Cole believes that Chelsea should have tested the waters with a bid last season to try and lure the experienced defender to Stamford Bridge.

Asked who he would sign for the Blues this January, Cole told Paddy Power : ‘I would have gone down the road of going really big for Virgil van Dijk when he was coming to the end of his contract at Liverpool last summer.

Cole believes Chelsea should have made a move for Virgil van Dijk (Picture: Getty)

Van Dijk signed a new contract last season to end speculation over his future at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

‘You need seasoned winners in the side.’

Cole added: ‘I’d be looking at the PSG squad, which I think is bloated. Players who understand winning and know how and what it means to win.

‘I don’t think Arsenal are going to be able to keep up with all their players, certain players there will be available at the end of the season.

‘Unfortunately, none of the top, top players are going to be coming to Chelsea, because if they’re available, then the Man City’s, the Arsenal’s and the Liverpool’s will come calling and they will go there first.

Chelsea have a new face in the dugout (Picture: Getty)

‘So Chelsea are still in their rebuilding phase.’

The latest chapter in Chelsea’s rebuild has come in the appointment of Liam Rosenior , the former Strasbourg head coach arriving to replace Enzo Maresca following his sacking on New Year’s Day.

The Englishman got underway with an emphatic 5-1 win over Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup , but Cole believes Chelsea fans should not expect miracles overnight from their new head coach.

@metrosportuk Liam Rosenior keeping is his enemies close 😳 New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior is already completing side quests as he shakes hands with EVERY media member before his first press conference. #liamrosenior #chelsea #chelseafc #footballnews #pressconference ♬ original sound – Metro Sport – Metro Sport

‘He needs time, that’s the crucial thing,’ he added. ‘There’s no magic wand to get things going straight away.

‘There’s good players at Chelsea and we’ve seen they’re capable of beating anyone. Performances against Barcelona and Arsenal where they were down to 10 men and they were superb.

‘You’ve got the two semi-finals against Arsenal in that [seven games], plus some other London derbies in there [Brentford, Crystal Palace and West Ham].

‘The expectations are massive but the Fulham loss was a real killer blow because it’s put Chelsea down to 7th or 8th, the league is so tight.

‘I said it from the start of the season, Champions League football is the target, so they need to get results and you need to give Liam time.’

Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday when they host Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.