William Gallas says Chelsea should have signed Josko Gvardiol last summer (Picture: Getty)

William Gallas says Chelsea should have signed World Cup star Josko Gvardiol last summer instead of bringing two ‘panic buys’ to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Gvardiol, who starred in Croatia’s run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar.

Gallas fears Chelsea have missed the boat regarding a deal for the 20-year-old as several other clubs have now expressed interest in striking a deal with RB Leipzig.

The former Blues defender wishes Gvardiol had moved to Stamford Bridge last summer, when new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly opted to spend more than £100m on fellow centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Gallas has described Fofana and Koulibaly as ‘panic buys’ and believes Chelsea overpaid for the duo.

‘Chelsea were linked with Gvardiol last summer and they should have got him then,’ Gallas told Genting Casino. ‘Instead, they got Fofana and Koulibaly.

‘They already have Thiago Silva and Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta] too so it may be difficult to get Gvardiol now. At the start of the season it would have been a good move but I don’t know if it would be now.

Gvardiol starred for Croatia at the Qatar World Cup (Picture: Getty)

‘Chelsea panicked in the summer. They saw some players and put a lot of money towards them when for me, they did not meet their value.

‘Some chairmen spend too much money when they have no idea what they are doing.’

Chelsea lost three Premier League games in a row before the World Cup break and are just eighth ahead of the return of domestic football.

The Blues have struggled for goals under Thomas Tuchel’s replacement Graham Potter and Gallas believes Chelsea should sign Cristiano Ronaldo on a short-term deal.

Ronaldo is searching for a new club after being released by Manchester United during the World Cup following a controversial interview he gave to Piers Morgan.

‘Chelsea have to buy a striker,’ Gallas added. ‘They have to find the right striker who fits the system.

Former Man Utd striker Cristiano Ronaldo is searching for a new club (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s not only me who sees that problem. Chelsea are in the position where they are not scoring many goals, and Ronaldo could do that.

‘It would have been difficult for him at the World Cup on the bench, so he needs time to think to avoid a similar situation to what happened at Manchester United.

‘If he goes to Chelsea, it should only be until the end of the season but I think he could do a good job there.’

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