FORMER Chelsea player Asmir Begovic is shocked by the club’s recruitment and branded the Blues a mid-table side.
The goalkeeper also questioned why Todd Boehly has overseen a transition period since taking over the club.
Asmir Begovic has questioned Chelsea’s recruitment over the last 12 monthsGetty
The American owner has spent more than £1billion since arriving last year but Begovic believes Chelsea’s squad is still only mid-table standard.
He told The Byline podcast: “‘I mean in the last 12 months… What has happened at Chelsea Football Club? It just beggars belief.
“I mean the squad of players at Pochettino’s disposal, the amount of money spent is 12th in the league – it’s mid-table! It is literally mid-table. If they were any higher you would be working miracles.
“You have a bit of [bad] luck with [Christopher] Nkunku, I get it, he’s a top player. Cole Palmer has only just come in. But what is going on with the recruitment of these players? Why is Chelsea Football Club rebuilding?
“Why is Chelsea Football Club in a transition? This is one of the best. I mean I’ve been there. I’m proud to have been there. It’s one of the best locations to play football in the world.”
Begovic, 36, revealed he is not familiar with many players Chelsea have signed and suggests the club should have targeted top quality players like Declan Rice.
The QPR star, who won the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, claims Rice would have picked Chelsea over Arsenal if the Blues made an offer to sign him.
Begovic added: “If you’re spending £115m on Caicedo, surely you spend £120m on Declan Rice?
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“I don’t know Declan personally, I’m not saying he doesn’t want to play for Arsenal, but hand on heart I think he’d have wanted to go to Chelsea.
“You look at some of these players and think, ‘How is Declan Rice going somewhere else?’ Players like this, they would go to Chelsea in the past – players in their prime, and Declan Rice is in his prime.”