Chelsea and Frank Lampard have been left in quite the predicament this summer.
With a transfer ban for the next two windows, the club is looking to merge the youth and first-team to ensure they have the depth and quality to get through next season. And after appointing a new inexperienced manager like Lampard, Chelsea need to ensure they do this one thing next summer.
Chelsea, and Roman Abramovich, in particular, need to make sure that funds are available for Lampard to strengthen his squad next summer, no matter the outcome next season.
The lack of quality is very apparent, especially after the departure of Eden Hazard. The Belgian contributed a mammoth 34% of Chelsea’s goals in all competitions last season. This means that if his adequately replaced after the transfer ban, Chelsea won’t have the same quality going forward if money isn’t given to Lampard next summer.
There’s nothing to suggest Chelsea can’t enjoy a successful season next year. However, after being forced to retain the same squad as last season and the strength of rivals Manchester City and Liverpool, it is highly unlikely they will win anything next season.
Arsenal area club, who recently enjoyed some success, however, failed to build on it by enduring poor transfer windows. The North London club have been plagued with defensive issues for years, and after winning the FA Cup in 2017, the issue still wasn’t resolved to make sure the club kicked on as the club failed to sign a centre-back. Chelsea need to make sure they use this as an example of how despite winning something, they don’t fool themselves into thinking a poor squad is good enough to kick-on.
Chelsea require further reinforcements next summer, and if they don’t get them, they face falling into the same situation Arsenal find themselves in. It’s key that Chelsea’s board recognise this, otherwise, their romantic appointment of Lampard could turn sour very quickly.
