Chelsea’s winger needs depend on how Frank Lampard uses Hakim Ziyech
By Varun Dani
Whether or not Chelsea need to buy a winger this summer comes down to how Frank Lampard fits Hakim Ziyech into the squad.
Let’s assume both Pedro and Willian leave the club once their contracts expire, leaving Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi as the sole wingers at Stamford Bridge. And let’s say Chelsea are not buying Jadon Sancho. Even in a financially depleted market, Borussia Dortmund will not budge in their valuation of Sancho; neither will Manchester United budge with their determination to make him their marquee signing of the summer.
With a revised budget Chelsea could not possibly complete a £150 million deal (including agent fees) or match United’s ridiculous wages. And no, being a childhood Chelsea fan counts to absolutely nothing in the football world.
Scenario A: Hakim Ziyech as central attacking midfielder; Winger priority – medium
Hakim Ziyech was given a free role at Ajax, rotating between the right wing and central midfield depending on the tactics and opposition. That makes it impossible to predict with certainty where Frank Lampard plans to deploy him.
If Lampard has brought Ziyech to challenge Mason Mount for the role of the central attacking midfielder, Chelsea will only have two natural wingers at Lampard’s disposal. That would make it imperative for the club to pursue another quality winger for the sake of competition more than depth.
Adama Traore would an excellent candidate for any such acquisition. The Barcelona youth product has always been closely watched over the years, with the lingering question of whether he can be more than just a physical specimen asked time and again.
His brute strength and ridiculous pace make him a hazard for any team, but his steady development at Wolves has added an end product to his game, making him a force to be reckoned. The shades of his true potential were already visible this season, as he dominated the best Premier League squads, including Manchester City.
Traore will be expensive, even in a normalised market, but would cost half the price of Sancho. He’s close to reaching his prime. Should Lampard nurture him well, he could go onto to become one of the best in the world.
Scenario B: Hakim Ziyech as winger; Winger priority – low
If Lampard plans to use Ziyech on the flanks as a wide playmaker, the need for a new winger would considerably lower. With Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic and Ziyech, Chelsea would have three regular wingers and the option of Mount playing as an emergency winger. If need be, an academy prospect could be called up as well.
That said, one of the biggest lessons of the current season has been the unpredictability of injuries. Only squad depth can mitigate the effects of injuries. In an ideal scenario, the manager should have two players in every position to survive a full season without stop-gap decisions.
With the priority low, Chelsea should focus on finding a player both useful and economical. The mooted loan deal for Philippe Coutinho would be fantastic in that regards, as it adds a versatile player who is truly world-class on his day. Low risk, low finances, high reward.
Another route the club could take is to strike yet another bargain deal with Ajax for left-footed David Neres. The Brazilian is quite an enigma in the footballing world: despite being young, skilful and pacey, he escapes the attention of rumour mills. He has already proven he has the talent to make it at a bigger club should one take a chance on him.
For the right deal, Neres could become a useful squad option for Lampard. And, who knows, maybe even unseat Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi to become Chelsea’s next winged talisman.
Finally, it’s always a heartening prospect to see an academy graduate return to the club, but for Jeremie Boga’s sake he should continue his development in Italy. Chelsea’s left wing is already crowded with Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, so Boga would either be resigned to the bench or retrained on the right flank.
After years of frustration, he is finally making good on his potential and needs guaranteed first-team football to continue to do so. With the finances and emotions involved, it is certainly a tempting deal, but staying clear of it right now could help Boga truly become the player Chelsea envisioned him to be.
Next. Difficult not to think of Kenedy, whose incident was ahead of its time. dark
Maybe someday, but not anytime soon.