Chelsea started the season in dismal fashion, losing to Manchester United 4-0 on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford. They were then defeated by Liverpool in the Super Cup final on penalties after Tammy Abraham missed a decisive shootout spot kick. But how have things gone for the Blues since then?
Manager Frank Lampard, who quickly got his team to play attractive and exciting football after those two defeats, with the emphasis on youth running through the squad, has had a topsy turvy last month.
The club embarked on a seven-game winning run where they overcame the likes of Wolves, Burnley, Southampton and Ajax in the Champions League.
Chelsea then qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with a win over Lille in the final group game of their campaign.
But the club have failed to win all of their games against fellow top six sides and in recent weeks, defeats against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton have left then clinging on to the top four, despite the fact their chances of finishing in the Champions League spots were looking pretty good last month.
One big plus, however, has been just how well Chelsea’s young English players have performed this season, including Abraham. The striker has netted 14 times this season and fellow academy graduates Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi have chipped in with goals too.
American star Christian Pulisic has also been a big hit with Chelsea fans, as he’s scored six goals this season, including a hat-trick away at Burnley in October.
Last month, Chelsea’s FIFA transfer ban was lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning that unlike the summer, where Lampard couldn’t make any signings, the west London side will be allowed to spend in January.
What do Chelsea need in January?
While Chelsea have been good in spells this season under Lampard, they’ve probably been lacking in squad depth, particularly in defensive ares.
The club reportedly made Leicester defender Ben Chilwell their No 1 transfer target once the ban was reduced by the CAS, with both Emerson and Marcos Alonso lacking consistency in the left-back role for under Lampard this year.
Chilwell regularly provides assists for Leicester, he’s an astute defender and he’s been a huge part of the Foxes unbeaten run this season, which spans back to the beginning of October.
Lampard will also want to shore up his centre-back positions, with Brighton man Ben White reportedly one of the young English central defenders that Chelsea are scouting. The Leeds loanee has been top notch for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this year.
Who could Chelsea get in January?
Brighton’s White is certainly an attainable prospect for Chelsea to chase, but the Seagulls are said to want close to £25million for his signature.
Two attacking players also linked with a move to Chelsea are Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho and Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha – two attackers who Lampard would be delighted to have.
Sancho was a boyhood Chelsea fan as a youngster while Zaha has been seeking a move away from Palace since the summer, where he tried his best to transfer to Arsenal, who the Ivorian supported as a boy himself.
With Chilwell unlikely to leave Leicester in January, it may very well be that Sancho, who has had disciplinary issues with Dortmund this season, and Zaha become Chelsea’s two main targets in the winter window.
Who could leave Chelsea in January?
Lampard will have some key decisions to make in this regard. There are multiple players who either haven’t performed to the standards required, or they haven’t performed at all.
Two players who fall into the latter category are Olivier Giroud, who has played just twice in the league this year, despite signing a new contract in the summer, and former Barcelona winger Pedro.
Pedro has barely featured this season, making most of his appearances in the Carabao Cup, while Giroud has played a bit-part role behind Abraham and second striker Michy Batshuayi, who has more than played his part from the bench.
One player who Lampard may have to think about is Ross Barkley, who has tread a bit of dodgy path in the last few months despite an ankle injury. Lampard has had to publicly reprimand Barkley on more than one occasion about his private life and when he does play – the performances haven’t been up to scratch.
What will actually happen in January?
It’s thought that Roman Abramovich has handed Lampard a £150million transfer budget for the winter window, but it’s highly unlikely the former West Ham man will get the chance to spend it all – however many targets Chelsea have.
Sancho and Chilwell, with both on top form for Dortmund and Leicester, aren’t likely to be sold until the summer, where they’re likely to go for fees in the £100m region.
But Zaha, who wanted to move from south London so desperately in the summer, could try and force his way out of Palace again in January. We know the tricky winger wants to remain in the country’s capital and Chelsea may be best placed to offer him what he would be after financially.
Brighton defender White may also be on the agenda, and with Chelsea the only team currently in for him, Lampard may produce one of the steals of the winter window – if scouting reports are to be true.
