Cesar Azpilicueta has claimed that Chelsea's summer signings are not on the same level as those who have recently left the club.
The Blues have recruited Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger in the close season, but the likes of John Terry, Nathan Ake and Nemanja Matic have departed.
Diego Costa, meanwhile, appears to have played his last game for the club after his latest war of words with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
The Premier League champions got off to a bad start in the 2017-18 campaign, at one stage being three goals down against Burnley before salvaging some pride, though not a result, in a 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Azpilicueta is quoted by The Mirror as saying: "When you see the players we have lost and the players we have signed, they are not the same. Obviously we have very good young players, but we have to know the reality that being champions is even harder the next season – we have experience of that.
"So we need players — also for the development of the young players. They need help from senior players, from top players. Not to rush them in a position where maybe they are not ready to go at the moment, but they will be in the future. It is something the club is working on with the manager, and hopefully we can get new signings in the next few weeks."
Up next for Chelsea is a trip to Wembley Stadium to face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Giuseppe Labellarte
