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The famous 10: Chelsea’s seven options to inherit Willian’s number

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Willian shakes hands with Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea after victory during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on July 14, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Willian shakes hands with Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea after victory during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on July 14, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 01: Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea and Ben Chilwell of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on February 01, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

3. Ruben Loftus-Cheek

There is a certain sense that the 10 has to be earned, especially in house at Chelsea. Juan Mata had it when Eden Hazard arrived, but when the Belgian took it, it felt earned. Willian got it last season over other options because he had put in the work over time to earn it. Pulisic has only been around for a year and Ziyech is new, so the 10 may go to someone in place already. There will be a temptation to give it to a homegrown player after the youth revolution and Frank Lampard’s return, and Loftus-Cheek would have “dibs” in that situation.

It took a long time and a lot of hard work for Loftus-Cheek to finally break through at Chelsea. When he did, he was phenomenal. Unfortunately, injury took that from him last season and he has yet to truly return to his old self.

If Loftus-Cheek got the 10, it would be a reward for all of his hard work grinding his way in. He will have to return to a sort of form that earns him starts again, but the club could do much worse than bestowing the number to a player that fought so hard to be a part of the team.

4. Callum Hudson-Odoi

Last season there was a real sense that part of Hudson-Odoi’s contract extension hold up was wanting the number 10 kit. The young English player is full of talent and knows it and the 10 would signal the club’s belief in him. In that sense, Willian inheriting the number can be seen as a stop gap as well as Hudson-Odoi wearing the 20 (literally just 10 twice over).

The player has not fully recovered from his injury woes of last season, but he got much closer by the end of the year. Even still, the 10 should go to a player that feels like a starter on most days and Hudson-Odoi does not feel like that yet. New signings coming in may only hurt that notion so Hudson-Odoi may need to see someone else take the 10 as he earns his way some more.

Related Story. Chelsea's transfer blueprint: Sign Havertz; lock up Rice, a LB and a GK. light

5. Mason Mount

Chelsea’s wonderkid has often been disregarded by the boo boys this season, but he has been a fantastic addition to the team and even the new signings will not keep him out often. Everything he does is an attempt to help his team and that kind of work ethic is why Frank Lampard adores him so much.

The 10 would reiterate Lampard and Chelsea’s trust in him after a rash of competitive signings. He may not be the most creative player or the highest goal scorer, but he is rarely far from the action.

That being said, the 10 is probably not the number Mount is destined to inherit. If Ross Barkley departs (which is not unlikely by any means), Mount and the club will surely want to pass off the eight to the young Englishman. Yes, it is a bit cliche given all the Lampard comparisons, but it feels too right. 10 would be nice, but eight is surely the goal of Mount.

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