Summer Transfer Wishlist
When Frank Lampard arrived at Chelsea, he was handed a very difficult task. Chelsea's star player Eden Hazard, who is the main reason they are in the Champions League this season, had just been sold to Real Madrid.
On top of that, a year-long transfer ban was placed on the club last season. While it's clear a player of Hazard's quality may seem irreplaceable, Lampard wasn't even allowed to try.
As if that wasn't enough, right before the season started, key defender David Luiz demanded a transfer and was sold to rival club Arsenal. Lampard was counted out before his side even kicked a ball, and yet, they thrived.
Before COVID-19 caused this break in the action, Chelsea were in 4th place, which they have held for almost the entire season. However, they have also been helped by their rivals underperforming, specifically Arsenal, Man United, and Spurs. Being 34 points behind Liverpool, it is clear that they are a long way out from challenging for the title.
Lampard heavily advocated for signings during the January transfer window, but not a single transfer went through, which understandably left him a little frustrated.
"Manchester United obviously [signed] a big, big player, a world-class player, in my opinion," the Blues manager stated in a press conference, visibly flustered. "Now we probably become the underdogs because the teams around us have strengthened. It's a fact."
To their credit, the Chelsea hierarchy responded to his claims, pulling off the signing of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax for a cut-price fee, a massive coup for director Marina Granovskaia and Co. The Moroccan promises to be a valuable addition to an exciting young side that can only get better from here.
Ziyech was a good start, but now the real show begins. Lampard has a tremendous vision for his Chelsea team, and he is reportedly looking at a £150m transfer budget from owner Roman Abramovich for the summer. Many different players have been discussed, but here's some players who the Chelsea boss should definitely consider:
Jadon Sancho
Ever since the tension between Sancho and Borussia Dortmund reached its climax and left him seeking a transfer, there have been constant rumors of a move to Chelsea. It seems that Man United are favorites for the young Englishman's signature, but there are several factors that could tilt the balance in the Blues' favor.
Sancho is a boyhood Chelsea fan, growing up in London very close to Stamford Bridge. Journalist Gabriele Marcotti also claims that Sancho prefers a move back to his hometown for his next long-term project.
"I've been told Sancho would prefer a move back home in other words to London where he grew up," Marcotti said to BTP Media Network.
Along with this, the 20 year-old winger rose through the ranks with current Chelsea players breaking into the first team under Lampard this season, such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Mason Mount. There is also the attraction of playing for an English footballing legend like Lampard, especially to a Chelsea supporter like Sancho.
Lastly, Man United have reportedly taken a massive financial hit as an effect of the global pandemic, with Chief Ed Woodward stating that the club "is not immune from the financial impact of the coronavirus." This, along with Sancho's affection for Chelsea, could give Chelsea the upper-hand in negotiations.
The young star from Dortmund has been tearing it up in the Bundesliga, with 17 goals and 19 assists so far this season. His breathtaking skill, combined with raw pace, vision, and exceptional finishing ability make him a treat for any club to have.
However, any deal for him may cost the Blues upwards of £100m, so the deal has its obstacles, especially with the coronavirus affecting all clubs' financials this season.
Sancho could be the man to finally replace Hazard, and who better to fill that void than a homegrown talent who adores the club?
Ben Chilwell
Another young Englishman who grew up a Chelsea fan that has been linked with a move in the summer is left-back Ben Chilwell. The 23-year-old is having the best season of his career for 3rd-place Leicester City, having played almost every game and making good contributions for a team exceeding expectations all season.
His solid and reliable defending is complemented by his pinpoint crossing, two traits Chelsea could use in a natural left-back. Chilwell and James as fullbacks would be a very menacing duo.
Leicester are not keen to sell, though, demanding upwards of £60m for the Englishman. If this saga drags on, it could end up like Leicester's sale of Harry Maguire to United, where they overpaid out of desperation. Lampard should only consider Chilwell for an affordable fee; if not, there are other talented left-back options.
Alex Telles
One of these talented, more affordable left-back options is Alex Telles. The Porto man has shone this season, with 8 goals and 5 assists as a left-back in the Portuguese domestic league.
The 27-year-old has all the attributes needed to fit in with Lampard's system, and would only cost around £25m. On paper, he seems like a very smart choice for the Blues.
However, there is the issue of PSG's continued interest in him. A financial superpower like PSG could easily drive the price up, which would only benefit Porto. Nonetheless, a reasonable deal can certainly be struck to make Telles the latest attempt to replace legend Ashley Cole.
Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho's last few years have been anything but ideal. After hitting top form for Liverpool, he was sold for a whopping £142m to Barcelona, where he has not fit in as he would have liked. He is largely played out of position, and he does not play in a system which suits his strengths.
He was loaned out to Bayern, where he has been solid, but not exceptional. It is very unlikely that the German club will exercise his purchase option, so he will probably return to the Blaugranas this summer, where he could find himself sold for a cut-price fee.
For the Brazilian, a return to the more fast-paced, electric Premier League would suit his game, and could help him return to his Liverpool form. His long-range shooting, passing, and dribbling are all mesmerizing at times, and if a reasonable fee can be negotiated, he would be an excellent option. If Chelsea can get a fee of £50m or thereabout, Coutinho would be a fantastic signing.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Perhaps the only good to come of Arsenal's season, Aubameyang has continued his excellent form this season for the Gunners. While they remain 9th in the league, Auba is 2nd in the Golden Boot race, and his combination of pace and power is a nightmare for defenders.
Chelsea have found that neither of their strikers meet these two characteristics. Starter Tammy Abraham is very fast, can run in behind, and is a good dribbler, but his strength and hold-up play still need work, as does his finishing. Conversely, Olivier Giroud's hold-up play is spectacular and he bullies defenders, but his lack of pace completely eliminates his threat in behind.
Aubameyang has these two traits in abundance, and is an excellent finisher, as shown by his 17 goals in the Premier League alone, and all this with a mediocre supporting cast. Imagine what he could do with through balls from Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, and Ziyech.
Arsenal may also be willing to sell to Chelsea after the recent transfers of Petr Cech and Luiz to Arsenal may have softened their stance on dealing with their rival club. However, Auba is their star player, so they will need to be tempted with a good offer.
The acquisition of a player like Aubameyang could be the striker Chelsea need, especially for a few seasons while Abraham continues to improve. Available at around £50m, he could be worth looking into for Lampard.
It is no secret that Lampard, Abramovich, and Granasovakia have work to do this summer, but if they can end up with 2-3 of these options, along with the addition of Ziyech, it will be a successful transfer window for the Blues.
On top of that, a year-long transfer ban was placed on the club last season. While it's clear a player of Hazard's quality may seem irreplaceable, Lampard wasn't even allowed to try.
As if that wasn't enough, right before the season started, key defender David Luiz demanded a transfer and was sold to rival club Arsenal. Lampard was counted out before his side even kicked a ball, and yet, they thrived.
Before COVID-19 caused this break in the action, Chelsea were in 4th place, which they have held for almost the entire season. However, they have also been helped by their rivals underperforming, specifically Arsenal, Man United, and Spurs. Being 34 points behind Liverpool, it is clear that they are a long way out from challenging for the title.
Lampard heavily advocated for signings during the January transfer window, but not a single transfer went through, which understandably left him a little frustrated.
"Manchester United obviously [signed] a big, big player, a world-class player, in my opinion," the Blues manager stated in a press conference, visibly flustered. "Now we probably become the underdogs because the teams around us have strengthened. It's a fact."
To their credit, the Chelsea hierarchy responded to his claims, pulling off the signing of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax for a cut-price fee, a massive coup for director Marina Granovskaia and Co. The Moroccan promises to be a valuable addition to an exciting young side that can only get better from here.
Ziyech was a good start, but now the real show begins. Lampard has a tremendous vision for his Chelsea team, and he is reportedly looking at a £150m transfer budget from owner Roman Abramovich for the summer. Many different players have been discussed, but here's some players who the Chelsea boss should definitely consider:
Jadon Sancho
Ever since the tension between Sancho and Borussia Dortmund reached its climax and left him seeking a transfer, there have been constant rumors of a move to Chelsea. It seems that Man United are favorites for the young Englishman's signature, but there are several factors that could tilt the balance in the Blues' favor.
Sancho is a boyhood Chelsea fan, growing up in London very close to Stamford Bridge. Journalist Gabriele Marcotti also claims that Sancho prefers a move back to his hometown for his next long-term project.
"I've been told Sancho would prefer a move back home in other words to London where he grew up," Marcotti said to BTP Media Network.
Along with this, the 20 year-old winger rose through the ranks with current Chelsea players breaking into the first team under Lampard this season, such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Mason Mount. There is also the attraction of playing for an English footballing legend like Lampard, especially to a Chelsea supporter like Sancho.
Lastly, Man United have reportedly taken a massive financial hit as an effect of the global pandemic, with Chief Ed Woodward stating that the club "is not immune from the financial impact of the coronavirus." This, along with Sancho's affection for Chelsea, could give Chelsea the upper-hand in negotiations.
The young star from Dortmund has been tearing it up in the Bundesliga, with 17 goals and 19 assists so far this season. His breathtaking skill, combined with raw pace, vision, and exceptional finishing ability make him a treat for any club to have.
However, any deal for him may cost the Blues upwards of £100m, so the deal has its obstacles, especially with the coronavirus affecting all clubs' financials this season.
Sancho could be the man to finally replace Hazard, and who better to fill that void than a homegrown talent who adores the club?
Ben Chilwell
Another young Englishman who grew up a Chelsea fan that has been linked with a move in the summer is left-back Ben Chilwell. The 23-year-old is having the best season of his career for 3rd-place Leicester City, having played almost every game and making good contributions for a team exceeding expectations all season.
His solid and reliable defending is complemented by his pinpoint crossing, two traits Chelsea could use in a natural left-back. Chilwell and James as fullbacks would be a very menacing duo.
Leicester are not keen to sell, though, demanding upwards of £60m for the Englishman. If this saga drags on, it could end up like Leicester's sale of Harry Maguire to United, where they overpaid out of desperation. Lampard should only consider Chilwell for an affordable fee; if not, there are other talented left-back options.
Alex Telles
One of these talented, more affordable left-back options is Alex Telles. The Porto man has shone this season, with 8 goals and 5 assists as a left-back in the Portuguese domestic league.
The 27-year-old has all the attributes needed to fit in with Lampard's system, and would only cost around £25m. On paper, he seems like a very smart choice for the Blues.
However, there is the issue of PSG's continued interest in him. A financial superpower like PSG could easily drive the price up, which would only benefit Porto. Nonetheless, a reasonable deal can certainly be struck to make Telles the latest attempt to replace legend Ashley Cole.
Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho's last few years have been anything but ideal. After hitting top form for Liverpool, he was sold for a whopping £142m to Barcelona, where he has not fit in as he would have liked. He is largely played out of position, and he does not play in a system which suits his strengths.
He was loaned out to Bayern, where he has been solid, but not exceptional. It is very unlikely that the German club will exercise his purchase option, so he will probably return to the Blaugranas this summer, where he could find himself sold for a cut-price fee.
For the Brazilian, a return to the more fast-paced, electric Premier League would suit his game, and could help him return to his Liverpool form. His long-range shooting, passing, and dribbling are all mesmerizing at times, and if a reasonable fee can be negotiated, he would be an excellent option. If Chelsea can get a fee of £50m or thereabout, Coutinho would be a fantastic signing.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Perhaps the only good to come of Arsenal's season, Aubameyang has continued his excellent form this season for the Gunners. While they remain 9th in the league, Auba is 2nd in the Golden Boot race, and his combination of pace and power is a nightmare for defenders.
Chelsea have found that neither of their strikers meet these two characteristics. Starter Tammy Abraham is very fast, can run in behind, and is a good dribbler, but his strength and hold-up play still need work, as does his finishing. Conversely, Olivier Giroud's hold-up play is spectacular and he bullies defenders, but his lack of pace completely eliminates his threat in behind.
Aubameyang has these two traits in abundance, and is an excellent finisher, as shown by his 17 goals in the Premier League alone, and all this with a mediocre supporting cast. Imagine what he could do with through balls from Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, and Ziyech.
Arsenal may also be willing to sell to Chelsea after the recent transfers of Petr Cech and Luiz to Arsenal may have softened their stance on dealing with their rival club. However, Auba is their star player, so they will need to be tempted with a good offer.
The acquisition of a player like Aubameyang could be the striker Chelsea need, especially for a few seasons while Abraham continues to improve. Available at around £50m, he could be worth looking into for Lampard.
It is no secret that Lampard, Abramovich, and Granasovakia have work to do this summer, but if they can end up with 2-3 of these options, along with the addition of Ziyech, it will be a successful transfer window for the Blues.
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