Jamie Carragher says ‘players should stop joining Chelsea’ and ‘sign a four-year deal at a proper club’ in stunning rant

JAMIE CARRAGHER has told Chelsea to stop making signings – and urged players to instead join a “proper club”.

The pundit launched a blistering rant over Enzo Maresca‘s 40-plus squad after big names like Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher failed to even make the Blues’ first matchday squad of the season.

Several players could move out – but Liverpool legend Carra is staggered that Chelsea might well bring in others like Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix.

He pleaded with Blues’ targets to opt for a shorter contract elsewhere rather than a mega-long, massive-money deal at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca’s men opened their Premier League campaign with Sunday’s tame 2-0 home defeat to champions Manchester City.

And Carragher hit out at continuing transfer speculation following a dozen recruits earlier this summer.

The former England defender told Sky Sports: “Chelsea have just got to stop buying players and players have got to stop signing for Chelsea.

“If I was a player and look at Chelsea, why would you sign?

“The only reason you’d sign is because someone might say – your agent might say – ‘We’re getting a seven-year deal’.

“You know what I’d say? ‘Back yourself as a player, sign a four-year deal at a proper club and back yourself to do well’.

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“And then when you’re due for renewal your money goes up anyway.

“I don’t understand why you’d sign a seven-year deal. Back yourself.”

When it was suggested players might want to join ex-Leicester chief Maresca’s new vision at Stamford Bridge, Carra much doubled down on his hard-hitting verdict.

He said: “(To be) part of what? It’s not a young and exciting team.”

Carragher also wondered where any incoming attackers, notably ex-loanee winger Felix, would fit in.

What’s more, he appeared to question the roles of Christopher Nkunku, plus new boys Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Pedro Neto.

Carra then outlined why be believed the ideal first-team squad should only contain around 21 players.

He said: “All players need competition. But every team I played in there were seven or eight players who knew they were playing every week.

“Then you’ve got six or seven players who are fighting for three positions, and then you’ve got another six players who know they are squad players.”

And of the Blues’ swollen array of talent, Carragher asked: “Where are they going to fit in the changing room?

“How are you going to put on a training session.”