Chelsea gives the full green light to Frank Lampard’s project

After Frank Lampard’s successful first season at Chelsea, the club has given his project the full green light going further into the transfer window.

Frank Lampard’s first season has been a success. Many believed top four was too big of an ask for the second year manager with Eden Hazard gone and the only reinforcements in the form of Christian Pulisic (who believe it or not, was not the American Lionel Messi a year ago) and youth returning from Championship loans. Only the boo boys see this season as a failure, but they did take Woking to the Champions League in six seasons on Football Manager and they win the quadruple every season on FIFA 20. Clearly it is their expectations to take seriously.

The FA Cup final loss hurt. The Champions League is virtually over. Far too many goals have been conceded. But none of that should take away from the fact that the main goal was achieved: top four. Should that be the goal for a club like Chelsea? No of course not and Frank Lampard would agree. But this season was not normal and cannot be treated as such.

In response, the club has fully green lit Lampard’s project in a way no other manager has really be green lit since Jose Mourinho. Lampard knows who he wants to keep and who he does not, and with the help of Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech, he is looking to rebuild the Chelsea empire.

Kai Havertz is priority one still. While not necessarily “a need” for the Blues, to let a generational talent slip away when they are the only club in the race would be absolutely negligent of the club. Havertz is destined to become one of the super stars of the game and he can be the heart beat of Chelsea for years to come if/when the deal ever finishes.

Goalkeeper is the next sticking point. Kepa Arrizabalaga may be the club’s record signing but he is playing like many of the other bargain bin players the club signed in recent years. Lampard wants to offload him which would obviously prove difficult. Regardless, a new keeper is expected to come in. If Arrizabalaga sticks around, that will likely be the cheap and impressive Andre Onana. Otherwise? If he doesn’t? Chelsea is shooting for the moon with Jan Oblak or Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Left back and center back also remain points that need strengthening. Ben Chiwell and Declan Rice (despite playing in midfield for much of this season) have both been strongly linked, with the latter not being all that shy about implying his Chelsea support on Twitter. But to get either player, Chelsea will need to clear out a seat first.

Emerson has been linked with a move away for some time so if it is him or Marcos Alonso, it will surely be the Italian departing. At center back, only Fikayo Tomori is safe from being sold and that is likely because a loan is in his future. Ideally the club would be smart enough to stick with Kurt Zouma, but the right offer seems like it will tempt the club.

Interestingly, to help fund moves further, Jorginho is up for sale. There has been a growing since that the vice captain simply does not fit Lampard’s tactics and if the right offer comes, he will be allowed to go.

Jorginho surely is not the only one earmarked for a sale if the right offer comes in and the replacement is incoming. Ross Barkley can offer much to the club on his day, but it is always hard to tell if today will be the day or not. His playing time will be cut into by incoming players so it may be best to cash in now rather than later.

And all of this is only considering the names fans have already heard about. A potential window of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, a new keeper, Ben Chilwell, and Declan Rice would be massive. But there could be more if the right move becomes available.

All of this would be a massive show of support for Lampard and his project. It would basically be a rebuild of the club in his image. And if this is what Lampard can do with a piecemeal team of whom half he is willing to offload, imagine what he can do with his own side.