Roy Keane identifies signing Enzo Maresca will want Chelsea to make this summer

Roy Keane says Enzo Maresca will be desperate for Chelsea to improve the ‘spine of the team’ by signing an experienced central defender in the summer transfer window.

Chelsea surpassed expectations across a strong start to Maresca’s reign, with the club suffering just two defeats in the Premier League before Christmas.

But the Blues have badly struggled for consistency in the intervening months and find themselves in a fierce battle for Champions League qualification with just four games remaining of their top-flight campaign.

Victory over Liverpool, the newly crowned champions, though, would see Maresca’s men move three points clear of nearest rivals Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in the table this afternoon.

Since Todd Boehly’s takeover in May 2022, Chelsea have splashed out in excess of £1 billion on new signings – and another summer of lavish spending is expected at Stamford Bridge.

It’s understood centre-forward will be an area of focus in west London, with Maresca keen to bring in greater support and competition for Nicolas Jackson up front.

But according to former Manchester United captain Keane, the club are crying out for an experienced head at the heart of their defence after a challenging season for the likes of Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo.

‘You mentioned [Virgil] van Dijk and every club in the world would want a Van Dijk in their group and when you’ve got young players you do have that inconsistency,’ Keane said on Sky Sports ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool.

‘Obviously, the policy of the club is they’re buying players but they’re buying young players.

‘They’re not going to be spending £50-60million on a 30, 31-year-old, so that’s the balance he [Maresca] has got to get right.

‘With young players you get inconsistency and that’s where they probably do lack, particularly in the spine of the team with the two centre-halves, someone with that experience. But there aren’t many out there.

‘A lot of clubs are looking for that and if Chelsea come up short this year, in terms of getting in the Champions League, that is an area I guarantee the manager will be looking at in the summer.’

However, Keane believes Maresca could be faced with a similar ‘dilemma’ next season given the club’s reluctance to spend big on experience in recent transfer windows.

‘The problem is when you want experienced players who are maybe late-20s, early 30s, that know the league, they’re going to cost money and I don’t think Chelsea would be forking out fortunes, unless someone like Van Dijk is available on a free transfer and they give them crazy wages,’ he added.

It’s not an easy dilemma for a manager but that’s part of his job, obviously, to get the balance right, breeding young players.

‘But they need guidance from senior players and that’s probably cost them so far this year.’

Keane reflected on his own career and the invaluable pearls of wisdom he received from older and wiser team-mates Steve Bruce, Stuart Pearce and Bryan Robson.

‘When I was a young player, people like Steve Bruce, Stuart Pearce, it’s priceless,’ he explained.

‘The snippets of information they give you, not just on the pitch but on the training ground and when you’re travelling, too.

‘When I was at United, people like Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce, it’s vital that you have players like that in your dressing room if you want to win the big prizes.’

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