Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last season, and the Blues have been the closest competitor to Manchester City and Liverpool.

Former Chelsea defender William Gallas, who also featured for Arsenal and Tottenham has revealed his disappointment with Chelsea’s signings.

According to Gallas, Spurs and the Gunners have strengthened well this summer, while Chelsea made a mistake in not signing Jules Kounde.

Gallas believes that Chelsea’s transfer complacency may see the Blues finish behind their London rivals this season.

“I do find it hard to understand what is happening at Chelsea in terms of the defensive recruitments,” Gallas told Genting Casino.

“I feel they should have signed Kounde from Sevilla! I know they were very close to signing him and I think they have made a big mistake by not getting that deal done.

“The board was really close to getting him signed but it seems they took too long. They took too long for a player of his quality and you can’t do this with a player like Kounde after the season he just had. He was magnificent last season.

“Chelsea need players of Kounde’s quality. Azpi is getting older and maybe he has an opportunity to go to Barcelona. He was a great captain, so now they need to find young defenders who have the quality to play in the Premier League and Kounde was one of the players who would fit… and you let him go to Barcelona?

“That should not be possible and that’s why, for me, with Chelsea’s defence as it stands today, I don’t see Chelsea finishing above Arsenal or Tottenham this season.”