A former Chelsea player who made over 200 appearances for the club has told Spain forward Nico Williams to avoid his old stomping ground.
Williams is attracting interest from several top clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and Arsenal, as he continues to impress with the Spanish national team at Euro 2024.
The 21-year-old, who plays his club football for Athletic Bilbao, was also one of the standout performers in La Liga last season, notching five goals and registering 11 assists.
With interest high, Chelsea have also been linked with a move for the explosive winger, who is said to have a release clause of £46.5 million.
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In fact, Spanish outlet Sport suggest Chelsea have made an approach for Williams through an intermediary.
Williams, however, has been urged to turn down Chelsea by former Blues defender Frank Leboeuf.
"Nico Williams would be fantastic for Chelsea - but do you think he would go to Chelsea? They don’t have Champions League football," he told BoyleSports.
"I follow La Liga and he has been brilliant for Bilbao all season. To put it his way, if I was Williams, I would never go to Chelsea.
"I saw so many players move to Saudi Arabia and I lost respect for them – like Ruben Neves who moved to Saudi at such a young age. I couldn't have done that and it’s a similar situation to Nico Williams.
"So many big clubs want him and it would be odd for him to move to a club where they are not in the elite European tournament.”
Leboeuf, who joined the Blues from French side Strasbourg in 1996, didn't hold back when discussing his former club's strategy in the transfer market and beyond.
"I’m frustrated as a former Chelsea player," he added. "I still follow all my former clubs and especially Chelsea, as something special happened with me and the fans there when I was at the club.
"My frustration is now turning to anger. Chelsea change coaches but they are not thinking differently. I try to stay neutral - even when Chelsea play Man United – but I have to be professional.
"Chelsea as a football club is just not working and we are becoming a mockery for other clubs. We live in the present and not the future, fans want results and I want results, I don’t want to wait four years to get them.
"We need to sign spine players - look at what N’Golo Kante is doing at the Euros - it’s shameful why we’re getting rid of these players. We also got rid of Thiago Silva, who was our only experienced defender.
"We have talented players but they are far too young. There needs to be a blend of youth and wisdom of experience and we don’t have that - that is why we’re good and then terrible 15 minutes later and this is the new normal."
When asked about a possible move at Euro 2024, Williams was coy about his future.
"Everything that comes from outside is good, it means I’m doing my job well. Every kid dreams of being noticed by big clubs," he said.
"I’m focused on doing well at the European Championship and whatever comes after that I’ll find out because these days I’m totally disconnected."
Topics: Spain, Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Premier League, Barcelona, La Liga, Arsenal
Jack Kenmare