Jamie Carragher urges Xabi Alonso to replace Chelsea star and slams new signing

Liverpool legend and ex-England defender Jamie Carragher (Picture: Getty)

Jamie Carragher has criticised Chelsea’s decision to sign his former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson on a free transfer.

Henderson’s move to Stamford Bridge was confirmed earlier in the week after his contract with Brentford was mutually terminated.

The 36-year-old, who was part of England’s World Cup squad, captained Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20 and also won the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during a hugely successful spell at Anfield.

Henderson made a controversial move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in 2023 before returning to the Premier League last season with Brentford.

Carragher is happy for Henderson, who he ‘absolutely loves’, but has questioned the merits of Chelsea securing his signature on a two-year contract.

‘It’s a great move for Jordan Henderson,’ Carragher said on the Football Ramble podcast. ‘But I don’t understand it from Chelsea’s point of view.

Chelsea summer signing Jordan Henderson (Picture: Getty)

‘I hear people say they need experience but for me they weren’t lacking 35-year-olds, they were lacking players who were 27 and 28. The lad from Crystal Palace [Maxence Lacroix] for example seems like a really good signing.

‘Jordan Henderson was finding it tough at Liverpool three or four years ago, he wasn’t playing regularly and he’s had a couple of moves since then.

‘I know what Jordan is like, he’s going to want to play. He will not be going there thinking he’s a sub. But at 35 how much football has he got?

New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso (Picture: Reuters)

‘I absolutely love Jordan Henderson and it’s a great move for him, but I don’t see it for Chelsea.

‘It’s like they’ve gone from one extreme to another, buying really young and then buying old when you need players in the middle. I’m not quite sure Jordan can play week in, week out in the Premier League.’

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has welcomed ten new signings to Stamford Bridge this summer, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck and Maxence Lacroix joining Henderson in moving to west London.

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (Picture: Getty)

Carragher believes Alonso should sanction at least one more summer signing, however, and bring in a replacement for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with signing a new shot-stopper over the past 12 months with former Brighton star Sanchez making a number of high-profile blunders.

Asked whether he believes Chelsea need to sign a new goalkeeper, Carragher added: ‘It’s been proven. It’s not a debate, is it? No, he’s not it. He’s not it.’

Chelsea are in pre-season training (Picture: Getty)

While Carragher is sceptical about Chelsea’s move for Henderson, ex-Blues defender Gary Cahill has endorsed his transfer arrival.

‘Hendo is ultra professional – he does everything at 110 per cent and expects everyone around him to do the same,’ he told Chelsea’s official website.

‘I was always impressed when I was around him in England squads. He is very vocal in the dressing room and once he’s on the training pitch, he has that mentality of giving everything in every session and making sure others are giving that too.