‘He might be too old’ — Chelsea icon sceptical about signing of Ghanaian star

Joe Cole believes Antoine Semenyo would be a perfect addition to Chelsea, but he is not convinced the club will actually make a move for the Bournemouth winger.

The former Blues star jokingly suggested the Ghanaian might already be “too old” for Chelsea’s youth-driven recruitment model, even though he rates the player highly.

Speaking to Paddy Power, Cole could not hide his admiration for Semenyo’s form this season. But he also could not resist a playful jab at Chelsea’s current transfer strategy.

“Knowing Chelsea, he might be too old!” he joked, before doubling down on why Semenyo would still be a smart signing. “If he’s available and he wants to come, it’s a no-brainer in terms of bringing him into the football club.”

Cole noted that age and valuation, not quality, may be the stumbling blocks to signing Semenyo, saying, “With Chelsea’s model, there’ll be a financial element and evaluation element to it, so it’ll come down to that.”

Still, he insists the 24-year-old winger would instantly strengthen the Blues. “He’d be a welcome addition to the Chelsea squad, and he probably starts, because he’s been superb for Bournemouth.”

Semenyo reportedly has a £60m release clause rising to £65m with add-ons, meaning any club can trigger the deal in January. Liverpool are believed to be frontrunners, with Manchester City and Tottenham also circling.

Despite increasing rumours, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola insists he is not losing sleep over Semenyo’s future, at least not yet.

“We are in November, and Antoine is our player. He will continue being our player,” Iraola said, urging reporters to revisit the topic next month. “In January, you can ask me about the market… for now, I am more worried about the situation of players for tomorrow.”

The Cherries are aware that interest is accelerating as the January window approaches, especially with Semenyo’s release clause giving suitors a clear route to a deal. Liverpool have shown the most concrete intent so far, while Manchester City and Tottenham remain active in the race.

Whether Chelsea join the bidding war remains to be seen, and while Joe Cole believes Semenyo fits the footballing need, he remains unconvinced the club will see it the same way.