Chelsea: It’s time to retool in the middle of the park

The defense has gotten a lot of attention in terms of the need to overhaul a position group, but Chelsea’s midfield also needs some attention.

Throughout the course of the 2019/20 season, it has been Chelsea’s defence and goalkeeping that has caught the ire of most fans while the Blues’ midfield, which has traditionally been a position of strength, has flown under the radar. It would seem that manager Frank Lampard has already picked up on the stagnating midfield as Jorginho, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater and Victor Moses are reportedly on a list of names the club is willing to listen to offers for.

Lampard should not stop there, however. Over the next two transfer windows, the Chelsea boss must revitalize his midfield and move along more than just the names mentioned above.

It is hardly a surprise to see the names of Bakayoko, Drinkwater and Moses on the reported transfer list, while Jorginho’s name has swirled the transfer bucket ever since Maurizio Sarri left the club. Moses is all but assured to permanently re-join Antonio Conte at Inter Milan while Bakayoko’s relatively uninspiring time on loan Monaco suggests there is little hope for the 25-year-old Frenchman back at Stamford Bridge. Drinkwater has never lived up to the potential he displayed at Leicester. However, Drinkwater has recently caused a stir on Instagram after being pictured on holiday with Chelsea target Ben Chilwell alongside the caption, part of which read, “summer scouting”. Perhaps Chelsea is finding a use for Drinkwater after all.

Jorginho is the most talented of the midfielders to make the list, however he still seems as though he cannot play at the right speed for the Premier League. He has a natural gift in his passing and vision but he is too easily shrugged off of the ball. His defensive liabilities mean that Chelsea must flank him either side with a powerful tackling midfielder, a move that limits Chelsea’s tactical flexibility. Another reason to sell is the creative slack left by fiery Italian’s departure will be picked up with ease by Hakim Ziyech.

Here is where the plot thickens; Chelsea’s midfield has four untouchables in N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Starting with the easiest, Kante is still the best defensive midfielder in the game—even with the numerous blotches on his injury record as of late. If this were a video game, one would simply sell Kante when his price is at his highest because it is nothing more than a game. In real life you do not sell one of the best midfielders in the world, plain and simple.

Kovacic has really grown into his role with Chelsea this season. He has displayed a consistency that no other midfielder has been able to produce. His work rate and tackling have proved the Blues made the right investment after his loan from Real Madrid and he appears to be a favourite of the manager.

Mount is the darling child of this Chelsea team. He runs his socks off and has been one of the better players for the Blues this past season, as is shown by Lampard’s desire to get his name on the team sheet whatever the position. Expect him to continue to grow as long as Lampard doesn’t continue to force him to play out wide.

Loftus-Cheek did not have a very good restart, but it is important to keep in mind that he was recovering from a serious, long-term injury. He looked tentative and unsure of himself in play, but with a full preseason, expect Loftus-Cheek to finally take on the mantle of being one of the key pieces of this Chelsea team for a very long time to come.

Billy Gilmour is in an intriguing position, as well. The potential departure of Jorginho would clear the path for the young Scot, but he looked out of his depth towards the end of the season. His technical ability is of no doubt; however, he is not ready to be thrown into the deep-end of day-in-day-out riggers of the Premier League. Gilmour should stay with the club, and his minutes on the field should go up, but it is too early to have his name on the team sheet in pen.

What to do with Callum Hudson-Odoi? While more of an attacker than a midfielder, allow me some leeway here. With Christian Pulisic’s emergence as a bona-fide star, the once £50 million Bayern Munich-linked winger has fallen off of the map. While he has had to contend with serious injuries, as well as the impacts COVID-19 could still be having, Chelsea would be foolish to sell Hudson-Odoi. With the arrival of Ziyech and Lampard’s willingness to deploy Mount on the right wing—although that robs the Blues and Mount of his effectiveness—Hudson-Odoi’s path to the first team is murky at best. Add into that Timo Werner’s ability to play left wing it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Lampard send Pulisic to play the right side of the attack with Ziyech or Mount through the middle, further clogging the path for Hudson-Odoi.

Even with the departure of Pedro and likely Willian, Hudson-Odoi’s position seems tenuous as Blues’ fans hold out hope he does not take the route of Charly Musonda. Perhaps a loan to another Premier League club could benefit the winger. If Wilfred Zaha is finally on the move from Crystal Palace, there is an opening for a driving, forward-running winger. Premier League returnees in Leeds United, Fulham and West Brom could also do with some extra impetus on the flanks, although Lampard and Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa’s history could hinder a deal with Leeds.

It must be said, that with a tinge of sadness, Chelsea should move on from Ross Barkley. Unless there is a dynamic midfielder incoming before the start of next season, the Englishman’s sale should be pencilled in for just after the January transfer window. The Blues took a gamble on Barkley when they secured him from Everton and while he has played well in parts too often, he just isn’t up to the task. If Chelsea wishes to seriously compete in England and Europe in the next few years, the Blues need a player of a higher pedigree than Barkley. However, he should remain with the Blues as injury cover until a better option can be brought in.

Marco van Ginkel is listed on the Chelsea website as a midfielder as well, but for all intents and purposes, he is not a Blues player. Successful spells at PSV in 2016/17 and 2017/18 were followed by extensive surgery on his knee and he has been rehabbing at Chelsea. Even without Barkley in the team, van Ginkel seems to have missed his chance at Stamford Bridge; which is unfortunate because in his prime at PSV, he was a talented and strong midfielder with an eye for goal. However, much like Barkley, Chelsea is at a point where the organization needs to be ruthless in its pursuit of Premier League and Champions League glory. Van Ginkel does not make the cut.

The Brazilian Kenedy will also return to the Blues from his loan at Getafe. The 24-year-old’s time in La Liga was nothing special and all that remains is for Chelsea transfer goddess, Marina Granovskaia, to squeeze every ounce of cash out of a Kenedy sale.

Finally, there is Tino Anjorin and the 18-year-old is raw, but full of potential. As an attacking midfielder, however, there is almost no chance he makes an appearance for the Blues at this stage with advancing midfield being one of the busiest position the Blues have. At such a young age, what Anjorin needs most is game time and the Blues need to look for a loan away. Perhaps Germany or Spain will be the best option as the Italian league has proved fickle when it comes to any young talent that isn’t Italian. The Championship could be another possibility.

Lampard and Chelsea are still in a period of transition. Even as the arrivals of Ziyech and Werner have sped up the Blues transition, key areas—such as the midfield—need to be addressed. The Blues need just one or two more names in order to perfect the blend of world class, top quality and young stars they have in their midfield. Chelsea has an attack that could be the best in the Premier League next season; its midfield is halfway there, but a revitalization is in order if the Blues wish to progress.

What do you think needs to be done in the middle of the park for Chelsea to reach new heights? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!