Do Chelsea Need Reinforcements in January?

After a summer largely spent on the sidelines watching the transfer market unfold for their rivals, Chelsea are free to do business once again. The club were given a two-window ban by FIFA in February for breaching rules on signing young players. However, judgement was made on Friday to lift the ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Make no mistake, this news will be greeted as a victory at Stamford Bridge, but, is there really a pressing need for Frank Lampard to invest in January?

16 games into the new season, and Lampard’s young and improved side are exceeding expectations sitting fourth in the Premier League 5 points in front of Manchester United in fifth place. While the club would have been looking on jealously at their rivals splashing the cash before the season, the transfer ban has allowed Lampard to build from within and that faith in youth is reaping its benefits.

Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James are all enjoying such fantastic season so far. Had Chelsea avoided the ban in January, there could be a case to argue that none of these players would be enjoying such key roles under Frank Lampard.

It’s ironic that the ban was imposed on the club for breaching rules on the signing young talents when their very own youngsters are excelling currently. Chelsea may have lost a full fledgling winger in Hazard but Pulisic’s slow but progressive introduction has arguably made up for the loss of their former talisman. Also, Mateo Kovacic, bought permanently from Real Madrid is a key figure in midfield for Lampard, recapturing the sort of form that impressed Real Madrid while he was at Inter Milan.

Kovacic and Pulisic’s integration into Lampard’s first eleven has given the squad a fresh impetus merged with the many youngsters Frank Lampard has placed his faith in. However, with Chelsea’s transfer ban now lifted, as stated publicly, Lampard does indeed want to improve his squad going forward and there could be re-reinforcements in January. The club legend according to The Athletic has held active discussions with director Marina Granovskaia, technical and performance adviser and former goalkeeper Petr Cech and Scott McLachlan, the club’s head of international scouting.

Already, Chelsea have drawn up a list of targets they are trying to actively pursue over the next two windows. Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake and RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner are amongst those top targets. It is widely reported by the Telegraph that Lampard has been handed a kitty of around £150million to spend. While the potential to add to his squad may seem tempting, Frank Lampard must be cautious not to disrupt squad harmony amongst his promising camp.

Chelsea’s performances this season have been as a result of the discipline, culture and mentality that Lampard has rapidly instilled into the club after the uncertain and rocky aura of his predecessor Maurizio Sarri. It’s arguably because of Chelsea’s ban that Lampard has been allowed the freedom and room to manoeuvre without much pressure. The emergence of players such as Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount who have become significant pillars in Lampard’s attack has been a breath of fresh air within the camp and has allowed Lampard to almost shape Chelsea’s identity from scratch.

There is much belief that this current squad with some thorough additions could become serious title challengers within the next two years and possible winners within the next 4-5 years which means Lampard’s recruitment over the next few windows will have to be strategic and the right ones that fit the ethos and mentality of a team he is already succeeding in building. The Chelsea legend has managed to blend in experience with youth with the likes of Willian, Jorginho and Cesar Azpilicueta becoming the bedrock of his new Chelsea. The squad is stocked with talents both in the midfield and at the back, but with Giroud and Pedro likely to seek pastures new and Barkley’s future looking uncertain, a dip in the window may seem necessary.

While its important to remain cautious in the recruitment, it would be ideal for Lampard to recruit players ready to take that next level. Ben Chilwell, Nathan Ake and Wilfried Zaha all fall into that category with all three becoming key figures at their respective clubs, and all hold relative experience in the Premier League. A move across bluer waters certainly won’t stagnate their progression.

Chilwell is a boyhood fan of the club and is already close friends with Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi whom he has known since childhood. With much of Lampard’s youngsters fully ingrained in the England squad along with Chilwell, it will be very plausible for Lampard to recruit the left-back especially addressing a pressing need in a position that is probably the weakest in his squad with Marcos Alonso and Emerson all failing to impress the Chelsea boss so far this season. It is highly unlikely Leicester will be willing to sell next month. It is a deal that would make more sense for next summer.

Nathan Ake is a former Chelsea product himself and would fit in seamlessly, while Wilfried Zaha holds the imminent desire to play Champions League football, you wouldn’t back against a potential deal between Chelsea and Crystal Palace to happen in January. It has also been reported that Lampard would be interested in taking Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund with the player supporting the club since he was a kid, but if the interest is believed to be true, Sancho’s potential move could scupper the progress of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic. Zaha would be easier and cheaper to sign that Sancho, with a offer £60million-£80million believed to be enough to convince Palace to sell. Though, there could be ramifications involving players already at the club if a deal is to take place.

There are certainly options there for Lampard to explore, and with the issue of the ban now erased, it is a celebration that the club can finally add to their squad, but its also vital to keep in mind the type of players they may bring in. The squad may not need strengthening in January, but if Lampard is to delve into the market he must make sure they are players ready to come in and make an instant impact rather than disrupting the squad as it is. If Chelsea are to get themselves amongst Europe’s elite and domestically, the next few windows will have to be approached with much consideration and thoroughness.