Kerry Dixon has spoken of his hope that Chelsea will manage to prise Fernando Torres away from Liverpool, despite the Spanish striker's public statement confirming he will stay at Anfield.
Speaking to Goal.com UK at the Betfair Five Horse Race at Kempton Park, Dixon - Chelsea's second top scorer of all time having hit 193 goals during a nine-year spell at Stamford Bridge - said current leading scorer Didier Drogba needed world-class support as the Blues aim to build on the Premier League and FA Cup double captured in Carlo Ancelotti's first season as boss.
"Didier's 32, and age isn't a factor if you're playing well," Dixon said. "But you can't expect him to score 30 goals every single season. He's had two golden seasons at Chelsea, but I'd love to see another world-class striker - and a young one - at the club.
"I would have thought they'd buy a striker. I hoped it would be Torres. I still haven't given up hope."
Ancelotti has overseen another quiet transfer window, signing just Yossi Benayoun with the Brazilian Ramires - "a good buy," Dixon said - set to join him. But Chelsea's erstwhile striking star believes the comeback of a few Blues stars from injury limits the need to splash the cash.
"The feature of our pre-season has been Michael Essien being fit," he argued, "showing no reaction to his injury. He's like a new £30m player this season. Jose Bosingwa is in the same category."
Dixon also backed Ancelotti's policy of promoting young players and bringing down the squad's average age. "It's great. I wondered what direction the club would go in. It gives them the opportunity to cut that wage bill, but it does mean the youngsters have got to step up to the plate when they're given their opportunity."
The 49-year-old was impressed by Ancelotti's first year in charge and doesn't think that his successes put any more pressure on him going into his sophomore season. "A double in your first year is a hard act to follow and it might seem as if anything less is a failure," he said, "but that's not the case. Chelsea will challenge for every competition they're in, including the Champions League."
Dixon feels they are close to achieving owner Roman Abramovich's major remaining goal. "They just need that little bit of luck to win it," said Dixon. "They've certainly got a squad that's good enough."
As far as their Premier League campaign goes, the eight-time capped England international expects big-spending Manchester City to provide stiff opposition this season.
"I think City will be a threat," he warned. "It will be difficult for all the big names to gel, but they've got the buying power to strengthen in January, any areas that haven't quite come up to scratch. But I still feel ultimately that it will be Chelsea and United fighting it out."
Speaking to Goal.com UK at the Betfair Five Horse Race at Kempton Park, Dixon - Chelsea's second top scorer of all time having hit 193 goals during a nine-year spell at Stamford Bridge - said current leading scorer Didier Drogba needed world-class support as the Blues aim to build on the Premier League and FA Cup double captured in Carlo Ancelotti's first season as boss.
"Didier's 32, and age isn't a factor if you're playing well," Dixon said. "But you can't expect him to score 30 goals every single season. He's had two golden seasons at Chelsea, but I'd love to see another world-class striker - and a young one - at the club.
"I would have thought they'd buy a striker. I hoped it would be Torres. I still haven't given up hope."
Ancelotti has overseen another quiet transfer window, signing just Yossi Benayoun with the Brazilian Ramires - "a good buy," Dixon said - set to join him. But Chelsea's erstwhile striking star believes the comeback of a few Blues stars from injury limits the need to splash the cash.
"The feature of our pre-season has been Michael Essien being fit," he argued, "showing no reaction to his injury. He's like a new £30m player this season. Jose Bosingwa is in the same category."
Dixon also backed Ancelotti's policy of promoting young players and bringing down the squad's average age. "It's great. I wondered what direction the club would go in. It gives them the opportunity to cut that wage bill, but it does mean the youngsters have got to step up to the plate when they're given their opportunity."
The 49-year-old was impressed by Ancelotti's first year in charge and doesn't think that his successes put any more pressure on him going into his sophomore season. "A double in your first year is a hard act to follow and it might seem as if anything less is a failure," he said, "but that's not the case. Chelsea will challenge for every competition they're in, including the Champions League."
Dixon feels they are close to achieving owner Roman Abramovich's major remaining goal. "They just need that little bit of luck to win it," said Dixon. "They've certainly got a squad that's good enough."
As far as their Premier League campaign goes, the eight-time capped England international expects big-spending Manchester City to provide stiff opposition this season.
"I think City will be a threat," he warned. "It will be difficult for all the big names to gel, but they've got the buying power to strengthen in January, any areas that haven't quite come up to scratch. But I still feel ultimately that it will be Chelsea and United fighting it out."
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