Chelsea may have recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, however manager Frank Lampard is seemingly still very much in the market for new additions to his squad, with a whole host of players having been linked with moves to West London. Under three weeks now remain in the January transfer window, with the Blues believed to have an estimated £150 million to potentially invest, following the lifting of their transfer ban.
Home defeats against both West Ham and Southampton at the end of 2019 demonstrated Chelsea’s need for more attacking options, despite Tammy Abraham having found the back of the net on 13 occasions in the Premier League so far this season. With Olivier Giroud likely to depart the club this month, a host of strikers are reportedly being targeted by the Blues, including Lyon’s Moussa Dembele and German international Timo Werner. However, with the duo likely to stay with their respective clubs until at least the summer, it could be that a striker from further afield arrives, such as CSKA Moscow man Fyodor Chalov.
Exactly what Lampard plans for January is still up in the air, with this transfer window being notoriously difficult to do business in. Chelsea remain in a strong position to finish inside the top 4, with the Blues currently sitting five points clear of Manchester United. The likes of Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori have all impressed despite their lack of experience at the top level, however Lampard who has taken some heat by fans this season is believed to be looking to strengthen across the pitch, with any deals potentially being effected by any outgoings that may occur.
Interest in Dortmund’s England winger Jadon Sancho is believed to have gone cold due to the substantial fee involved, while a move for former Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake could still materialise. Many football betting websites are predicting tough competition for a top four position, with new arrivals in January potentially tipping the balance yet further in their favour. The Blues were reported to have made a loan offer for Benfica youngster Gedson Fernandes, however the midfielder now appears set to sign for London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, due to the greater chance of earning game time under Jose Mourinho.
Lampard’s side are coming up to a potentially crucial run of fixtures, with Chelsea taking on Arsenal, Leicester City, Manchester United and Tottenham in the Premier League, before they return to European action against German giants Bayern Munich. An injury to the likes of Abraham, Willian or Antonio Rudiger would stretch the Chelsea squad to its limits, which is undoubtedly on the mind of both Lampard and the board at Stamford Bridge.
