Five Changes That Lampard Has To Make So Chelsea Can Become Title Contenders

David Tully

4 years ago

Tags: Ben Chilwell, Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Jadon Sancho, Kepa

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard lamented “basic errors” following the 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Tuesday night. The Blues boss says he has learned about the strengths and weaknesses in the squad over the course of the season, and he knows that the team needs signings to make the required improvements:

“I know and I feel where we need strengthening. It’s not going to be just January, this is more of a short-term window for us.”

“This season has given us some answers on the pitch in where we need to improve. But that’s not so much for this window.”

There are clear deficiencies in this Chelsea squad which will need to be addressed either this month, or more likely in the summer.

Lampard has done an admirable job in helping a number of young players transition into the first-team but an injection of quality is needed to improve results on the pitch.

Press the “next page” as we identify five changes Lampard must make to turn this team into genuine title contenders.

1) Sign a commanding centre-back who can marshall the backline

The likes of Fikayo Tomori, Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma all have a lot of good attributes but none of them could be described as being leaders. Antonio Rudiger does offer more experience but he’s not someone who is vocal and can marshall the defence like John Terry.

The defence has been a major thorn in Lampard’s side this season, and one of the main priorities next summer has to be to find a centre-back who can help improve the team’s defensive organisation.

2) Sign a poacher who can compete with Tammy Abraham

Lampard has been vocal on finding a striker who is clinical in front of goal. The Chelsea boss feels that the team is creating enough chances but they are not putting enough away.

An experienced player, who can help out Abraham, will need to be found either this month or at the end of the season.

3) Improve the options at left-back

Neither Emerson Palmieri nor Marcos Alonso have convinced Lampard. The Italian is not effective enough in the final third while the Spaniard is a liability at the back.

Ben Chilwell appears to be the Blues’ favoured option but with Leicester having reportedly set a price tag of £60m, it remains to be seen if the club will splash the cash.

4) Replace Hazard and seek out a chief playmaker

There is no doubt that the club have missed Eden Hazard since the Belgian left for Real Madrid in the summer. He got the team out of so many holes, and replacing him will be a challenge.

However, someone like Jadon Sancho could well be a player Lampard sees as a superstar in the making, but they will have to fight off major competition to secure the Borussia Dortmund winger’s services.

5) Consider Kepa’s future and be ruthless if his form doesn’t improve

The Spaniard has failed to live up to expectations since his world-record transfer from Athletic Bilbao eighteen months ago.

Kepa won’t be replaced before the end of the campaign, but if the 25-year-old’s form shows no signs of improving, Lampard will need to be decisive and make the required change in goal.