Chelsea will need to sign three players in the January transfer window if they want to guarantee a top-four finish this season, according to Paul Merson.
The Sky Sports pundit believes manager Frank Lampard needs a striker, a centre-back and a left-back if they are to ensure they qualify for the Champions League:
“If Chelsea do the right deals in January they can book their ticket to a top four finish now their transfer ban has been lifted. They are right in the hunt already but they have teams breathing down their neck now and the youngsters could do with some help.”
“They need a centre forward to take the load off Tammy Abraham for a start. He’s done brilliantly but you can’t rely on him alone for the rest of the season. I think Olivier Giroud will go. He’s hardly played and isn’t getting any younger. So they will need to replace him.”
“They might need a more experienced centre half if Antonio Rudiger isn’t going to be 100 per cent for the rest of the season – and they need a left back as well.”
A new forward looks like it will be a necessity if Olivier Giroud does leave Stamford Bridge, with Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele reportedly being scouted by the Blues last week.
In defence, a left-back is probably something that will be looked at too. Lampard is not convinced by Marcos Alonso and while Emerson has performed pretty well, his fitness record may force Chelsea into the transfer market.
The centre-half position very much depends on who is available. The Blues already have four centre-backs but someone who could come in and play a commanding role in the backline could help the likes of Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma.
