This is the third in a series that evaluates Premier League groups and their movement priorities for the summer. Learn more about Arsenal and its progress with Mikel Arteta and how Tottenham will have to rebuild on a budget with Jose Mourinho.
None of the Premier League’s big six have had a season as difficult to assess as Chelsea. Frank Lampard took office in difficult circumstances, Eden Hazard despite everything going to Real Madrid and a current play ban. There were very little expectations and, in this context, qualifying for the Champions League and reaching the FA Cup final, while many bloodied young people, is a success.
But it is also true that there has been widespread sympathy for Lampard by the press and enthusiastic component that has not been granted to Maurizio Sarri, his predecessor. Popular English ex-players, especially those who would possibly highlight his inexperience as a coach, will be treated more favorably than grumpy Italians. And that would possibly have concealed repeated failures. Chelsea this season has only given a purpose less than in their worst season in the Premier League, defensively. Only Norwich City and Aston Villa relegated hardly if they conceived more purposes in the cross-games. No team has granted faster counterattacks.
To some extent, this can be a problem of the workers’ body. Since Gary Cahill’s departure, Chelsea no longer has a central defender in charge. Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori have all their attributes, but none is a competitive leader they can count on to win a header. At least one and maybe two can be downloaded to verify in this area.
Lampard made it clear that he was not inspired by any of the team’s first-choice left sides, so Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmeri are likely to come out. Davide Zappacosta, also, on loan to Rome, is unlikely to be held.
We’ll probably have to clear the area in midfield. Jorginho is the ultimate with the chance of being discharged, a neat and talented player who has never looked home in English football. There are also question marks on N’Golo Kante, which would have seemed unthinkable a year ago. Kante, however, has been plagued by injuries and has enjoyed his worst season in English football, allegedly interrupted off-court due to an ongoing legal war in France and having to replace roles to welcome Jorginho.
Then there’s perhaps the biggest problem of the workers’ body: Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s greatest-loved goalkeeper. This season, he has posted a lower save percentage for Premier League shots than any other goalkeeper since Opta began to hold those records in 2003.
After a ban on movements and several seasons of relative austerity before that, it turns out that Chelsea is in a position this summer to reverse orthodoxy, assuming that the football economy shortly after the COVID-19 slowdown and will spend a lot, possibly doing also implies that he believes FFP regulations are now virtually inapplicable. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) and Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) have already signed a position that, along with Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, means that a formidable young man ahead is in a position instead. He finishes it through Olivier Giroud, whose contract has a year to go.
Darren Walsh / Chelsea / Getty Images
Goalkeeper
Kepa is the biggest workers’ challenge Lampard has to solve. The coach’s lack of confidence in his beloved goalkeeper was noticed on the last day of the season, when he left Kepa for Willy Caballero, but it’s hard to see how the 25-year-old Spaniard can download himself to anything other than a huge loss.
Chelsea’s interest in Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak is clear, although he can give up his $150 million termination clause. There will also have to be a small doubt, as smart as the goalkeeper is, about his ability to sweep behind the top line that Lampard is said to need to play. Andre Onana of Ajax and Nick Pope of Burnley are less expensive options, although only the former enjoy much of the game behind a top line.
Right offensive midfielder
It’s hard to see why it’s a precedent given the wealth already in Chelsea, but it’s still the big favourite to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz. The space is opening with Pedro’s departure, and Willian received a two-year contract, it looks like he’ll probably be gone when his contract expires this summer. The way everything fits is unclear, and it’s inevitable that one or two players will be underutilized (if the plan is to move to a 4-2-3-1, what does that mean for Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic? ), but it’s undoubtedly exciting.
Leaving behind
Chelsea can also do well with new faces in the middle, but it’s the left-back that turns out to be the ultimate urgent challenge for Lampard. Leicester City is understood to be in a position to miss a big decision this summer, and after James Maddison has signed a new contract, that probably means Ben Chilwell: a value of around $105 million can be prohibitive. Chelsea allegedly asked him to make an official move-in request.