TalkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders has just told Chelsea they could really do with signing a player who's in the same mould as a key Liverpool star.

Chelsea have been extremely busy already in the summer transfer window recruiting and adding extra quality to their squad. But some people may still feel they're short in certain areas, particularly when it comes to the lack of experience.

Marcus Bettinelli, the 32-year-old back-up goalkeeper, is now the only individual in the group at Stamford Bridge aged over 30.

Now that 39-year-old veteran Thiago Silva has left the club, the defensive line has become considerably less experienced. Can the Blues cope next season with a younger backline?

Saunders told talkSPORT: "You look at Liverpool for an example, when Van Dijk was playing with the three youngsters, he commands that backline. Chelsea need a centre-back who is actually leading that line, who they all trust. They all follow him, Van Dijk gets up, the other three get up. Van Dijk drops off, they all drop off."

Van Dijk, 33, has been one of the Premier League's elite centre-backs for several years now and Liverpool's solid defence has been built around his success. Any team, including Chelsea, would obviously be in a better place with a leader like Van Dijk.

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Speaking via The Gary Neville Podcast back in March, Neville described Van Dijk as "immense" because of a performance last season versus Manchester City.

As great as it is flooding your squad with youthful talent, there's going to be times when experience and years of quality shines through.

Who will start in the heart of Chelsea's defence? It's been claimed by The Athletic, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana will start together in the heart of Chelsea's defence next season. Don't forget there's alternative options such as Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo, though.

There's been a variety of different combinations trialed in the opening matches of pre-season, so fans are perhaps no closer to learning who starts the Premier League opener versus Manchester City. There's still four more friendlies to play before then, including another three during the tour in the United States.

Chelsea do at least have some Premier League experience in the heart of defence compared to other areas of their squad.