Why Chelsea want to sign older players

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Chelsea look set to complete a free transfer for Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson (left), with Brighton's Danny Welbeck also emerging as a transfer target By Simon Casson BBC Sport senior journalist Published 46 minutes ago Chelsea are targeting deals for Maxence Lacroix, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson - and the ages of the experienced trio seem to signal a major change in transfer tactics from the Blues. At 26, it could be said that Crystal Palace and France defence Lacroix is in his prime, but the £52m target is still notably older than other recent Blues signings. It has been two years since Chelsea signed a player older than Lacroix, and Tosin Adarabioyo was only marginally older when he arrived three months before turning 27. Meanwhile, Brighton striker Welbeck is 35 and keen to move to Stamford Bridge, and Brentford and England midfielder Henderson is 36. Welbeck's potential arrival could mean he replaces 23-year-old Liam Delap in the first-team picture. That is despite Delap having been considered one of the Premier League's most exciting young strikers when Chelsea signed him from Ipswich Town last year. So does this signal a deliberate change in recruitment strategy - prioritising experience over youth? And what might Chelsea have learned from recent seasons. The summer of 2022 - Tuchel goes for experience Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Chelsea spent over £90m in signing Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the summer of 2022 In the months that followed the club's takeover four years ago, then manager Thomas Tuchel went on a spending spree. His first major signing was Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling - aged 27 at the time - for up to £50m including add-ons. After winning four Premier League titles at City and helping England reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, there was much excitement. Sterling at Chelsea didn't work out though. Despite moments of brilliance, Sterling struggled for form and fitness as the team went on to finish 12th in the 2022-23 season. For a player reportedly earning over £300,000 a week, his performances fell well short of expectations. Sterling eventually left on a free transfer in January 2026. Kalidou Koulibaly 's arrival from Napoli for £33m also didn't end well. Rated at the time as one of European club football's top centre-backs, the Senegalese player - then 31 - was out of the door after just one season, joining Al-Hilal. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another experienced player whose time at Stamford Bridge was short-lived. The former AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal striker signed from Barcelona for £10.3m on the final day of the summer transfer window - just days before Tuchel's sacking. Aubameyang - 33 when he joined - struggled to find form or game time under subsequent bosses Graham Potter and Frank Lampard and, like Sterling, ended up leaving the club on a free transfer. Post 2022 - a