Xabi Alonso's appointment as Chelsea manager marks a significant shift in the club's strategy, with the former midfielder expected to play a key role in identifying summer transfer targets.
Alonso was instrumental in convincing Granit Xhaka to join Chelsea earlier this month, a move aimed at adding experience to a team that has relied on young talent in recent years.
Xhaka, however, has pledged his future to Sunderland, but Chelsea's former striker has expressed his support for the move, suggesting that it could bring a winning mentality to the team.
Alonso's first Chelsea training session saw him put his vision into practice, and former striker Hasselbaink believes that the club should target John Stones, a free agent since leaving Manchester City.
"I would love to see him go and get Stones, who is a free agent," Hasselbaink said. "He will have more rest, and he brings a lot of experience as well. So he can at least play 30 matches."
Hasselbaink believes that Chelsea's lack of European competition this season means that Stones could thrive, as he would have more time to rest and recover.
Liam Delap, a young player who struggled at Chelsea last season, is in desperate need of playing time, according to Hasselbaink.
"He needs football," Hasselbaink said. "He cannot have another season like he had last season at Chelsea. And if that means he needs to go out on loan or whatsoever, he needs to do that because he is too young to sit on the bench."
Hasselbaink believes that Delap needs to kickstart his career, scoring goals and regaining his confidence, which he lost during his time at Chelsea.
"He needs games," Hasselbaink said. "He needs the confidence of the manager that says, 'Don't worry with the first or second, just go and play.' And I think Chelsea's been in a space where they couldn't give him five games in a row because they needed goals straight away."
