Chelsea TV presenter urges club to sign Arsenal target and loan out 30m star

Chelsea are already planning for the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty)

Jason Cundy has urged Chelsea to sign ‘Premier League-ready’ Julian Alvarez and loan out a £30m signing this summer.

Chelsea are one of a number of clubs who have reportedly expressed interest in signing Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

The 26-year-old forward, a World Cup winner with Argentina, has scored 40 goals in 88 appearances for Atletico.

Before joining the Spanish giants, Alvarez spent two seasons at Manchester City, helping the Sky Blues win two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona have all been linked with Alvarez and former Stamford Bridge defender Cundy insists he would be a great signing for the Blues.

‘When we talk about what Chelsea need, we often talk about an off the peg type of player,’ Cundy told talkSPORT. ‘Julian Alvarez fits that type of player that we need.

‘That is the type of player I’d like us to sign more of. He’s Premier League ready. You’re not going to be waiting for someone to adapt to the Premier League.

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Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez (Picture: Getty)

‘There’s a lot to like about him, but it is a lot of money.’

While Atletico Madrid do not want to sell Alvarez, they will try to recoup the £82m they spent on the Argentine if they are forced to strike a deal.

Chelsea spent almost £100m on two strikers last summer, signing Joao Pedro from Brighton and Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.

Chelsea summer signing Liam Delap (Picture: Getty)

Pedro has enjoyed a decent first season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 13 goals in all competitions, but Delap only has one Premier League goal.

Delap reached double figures for relegated Ipswich last season but has underwhelmed in west London since choosing to join Chelsea over Manchester United.

‘My guess would be that maybe Liam Delap goes on loan, that might be an option,’ said Cundy, who made 41 appearances for Chelsea.

Liam Rosenior took over at Chelsea last month (Picture: Getty)

‘He feels a bit raw, he’s had one season in the Premier League. Maybe he needs to go and play every week.’

Cundy’s talkSPORT colleague Gabriel Agbonlahor has also been disappointed by Delap this season and believes he made a mistake joining Chelsea.

‘What I didn’t understand was Liam Delap on the right,’ the former Aston Villa striker said after Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal.

Leeds came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

‘I could play on the wing because I was quick but if one sort of striker couldn’t play on the wing it’s Liam Delap.

‘He looked lost. He got the ball, he tried to take on Hincapie, and lost it every time.

‘This isn’t working. I said when he joined Chelsea that I thought he should have gone to a team like Everton.

‘Develop there for a couple of years and then make the big move to a top-six side. I think the jump from Ipswich to Chelsea was too much.

‘When I look at him as a striker, I like him – he can hold up the ball well, he’s a good finisher, but he just doesn’t look sharp enough for the top level of the Premier League.

‘Someone like [Victor] Osimhen was the striker they should have gone out and got.’

Delap was a late substitute in Chelsea’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Leeds United on Tuesday night.

Chelsea led by two goals through Pedro and Cole Palmer but Leeds staged an impressive second-half comeback to earn another point in their battle to avoid the drop.

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