West
Ham United striker Andy Carroll does not suit Chelsea's style of play and
the Premier League champions have better options available, says Dennis
Wise.
Sky Sports News understands Chelsea have already contacted West Ham about
signing Carroll on a permanent deal in the current window.
However, lingering questions over both Carroll's fitness and scoring record
mean the 29-year-old is not the man to provide competition for Alvaro Morata
in attack at Stamford Bridge.
"He is a handful on his day, he really is, but no I do not think he is to be
honest (the answer for Chelsea)," Wise told The Debate.
"The reason being is he does not play enough games, he has had a lot of
injuries. He is 29 years old and does not score enough goals and so
therefore from that point of view, no.
"I think Chelsea like a striker who runs in behind and stretches teams and
he will not be that person if they play with one up front, he will be more
of a hold-up.
"And with the players that they have got, they come off more and they always
need that one person who is really going to stretch (the opposition) to give
them the space.
"Would Andy be satisfied going there knowing he will not be a regular and he
will be a bit-part player? Maybe he would, but not for me."
Wise also thinks there are better alternatives than Carroll for Chelsea to
look at to provide back-up for Morata, who is currently struggling for goals
at the west London club.
"There are more out there that score more goals, as they will get a lot of
chances in play, and really push Morata," said the former Chelsea captain.
"And that is what he needs.
"And Andy won't push him as far because he will only play a certain amount
of games and I think you want a player who is really going to push Morata,
score goals and put him under pressure."
Wise does admit he is surprised his former club have expressed an interest
in the nine-cap England international, with the ex-Blues skipper likening it
to when Chelsea bought Chris Sutton from Blackburn Rovers in 1999.
"He is not the type of player they go for, someone who is big and they stick
crosses in because they are a little play around the corner and get it back
and get in behind like that," said Wise, who made 445 appearances for the
Blues between 1990 and 2001.
"His link-up play is not the greatest and they need someone up there who can
link things who you have to go into him.
"We had Chris Sutton who was that type of big, strong… and his link-up play
was not great and he really struggled at Chelsea unfortunately.
"And I find Andy a bit like Chris and we had a lot of ball players at the
time - get it and get in behind and play - he is a bit like him.
"It did not really suit. And I do not think he will link up very well."
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