Chelsea legend Joe Cole has insisted that Conor Gallagher cannot leave this summer after telling the club what players to sign.

Gallagher has been strongly associated with leaving Chelsea this summer as he approaches the last year of his contract, although he remains a fan favorite.

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Tottenham are one of the frontrunners for his signature while talkSPORT understands Aston Villa have also entered the race for the 24-year-old.

However, Blues icon Cole has remarked that letting Gallagher go would be a significant error by his former club. He emphasizes that the club should focus on acquiring players who serve as role models in the locker room.

While speaking to talkSPORT at Ballerz, an innovative football venue in Bluewater, Cole commented: “Conor Gallagher can’t leave. I realize there are financial challenges, but Conor Gallagher has been exceptional, from beginning to end.”

“Everyone has turned up in the last few weeks but Conor, you see a great player when he is playing in a struggling team. Conor was still there, captain as well.

“I think it is imperative that the club keeps him.”

Gallagher has been a key player for Mauricio Pochettino this season and has been Chelsea’s de facto captain in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell but he could be playing his final game for his boyhood club on Sunday.

The midfielder has missed only one match in the Premier League this campaign through suspension and has scored seven and assisted nine in all competitions.

But as well as being the heartbeat for Chelsea, he has also helped in the dressing room – despite only being in his second season as a first-team player at Stamford Bridge.

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With Thiago Silva also departing, there is a fear that there will not be enough experience at the club to help guide what is one of the youngest teams in the Premier League, an issue Cole believes should be rectified in the summer.

The 42-year-old, who made 282 appearances for the Blues over seven years, added: “What is very important is the recruitment in the summer. You need experience, I wouldn’t say anywhere in particular.

“I don’t think the club need to add any more young players, they need experience.

“Very similar to what Bayer Leverkusen have done. They brought in Jonas Hofmann and another senior player (Granit Xhaka), you can’t put a value on that.

“I think if I was advising the club, it would be two or three players in. Experienced players who know how to win games, good characters, set the tone in the dressing room.”

Chelsea are already on the verge of signing Brazilian wonderkid Willian Estevao, continuing their policy of snapping up the best talents around the world, though the 17-year-old will not join until 2025.

Other players linked include RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran and Benfica ace Joao Neves, all of whom are 20 or younger.