Who’s in, who’s out? Chelsea’s attack for the 2020/21 season

Chelsea’s re-tooled its attacking positions ahead of the upcoming season, but how do the Blues spread the minutes around?

Of all the units in the Chelsea squad, the attack is the one undergoing the largest renovation. The club has dished out a hefty amount of money this offseason, mostly to revamp the attack and increase the scoring output. The Blues have struggled to find creativity and break down opposing sides in recent years, that should no longer be a problem come September 14.

Regardless, the attack is the most clear-cut in terms of who is—and isn’t—going to make the roster for the upcoming season. The starting XI might be a bit fuzzy, but make no mistake about it, Frank Lampard knows exactly who he’ll be working with during his sophomore season in charge at Stamford Bridge. Here is how Chelsea’s attack will look when the squad is finalized in a matter of days:

The most obvious inclusions are the newest additions to the team: Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech. In both players, the Blues are getting world class attacking talents who can play multiple positions on the pitch. Werner is expected to be the Blues’ No. 1 striker in Lampard’s 4-3-3 set-up. He can play in both a one and two-striker formation, as well as on the left wing. The German brings blistering pace and a killer eye for goal to the team. Ziyech can play on the right wing and also as a No. 10. The Moroccan is truly a magician as his passing ability is unmatched and his lethal left foot is something Chelsea has been missing for years. But what about the rest of the unit?

Presuming Werner plays as the No. 9 and Ziyech lines up to his right, Christian Pulisic will tend to the left wing. After fighting for minutes for much of last season, the American made the position all his own after the restart. He pulled away from Callum Hudson-Odoi, who will serve as the back-up on both wings. The thin depth out wide will see Hudson-Odoi get his fair share of opportunities late in matches and in the games of lesser importance.

Lampard also has one of the best striking forces in the Premier League at his disposal. Any team would be lucky to call Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud No. 2 and No. 3 options respectively, no matter how long it lasts. As of right now, both strikers look to be strapped in for the long haul. One thing to keep an eye on as the season progresses is how the manager gets Abraham and Giroud minutes. No matter the scenario, the side’s positional flexibility allows for both backups to get a hefty amount of looks throughout the long—and condensed—season.

That leaves the loanees and disposable forwards. Michy Batshuayi made a surprise one-year move to Crystal Palace recently and therefore, the biggest logistical headache—Kepa Arrizabalaga aside—is off the Blues’ books for another year. Kenedy also completed another loan move, this time to Granada. He joins Armando Broja, Izzy Brown, Charlie Brown and Ike Ugbo in the attacking loan army. Likely to join them soon: Charly Musonda and Lucas Piazon, who both still play for the club despite being largely forgotten. Their next destinations are unknown, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Musonda stick around either. He may spend time with the developmental squad while he recovers from yet another surgery. One thing is certain: none of these players will have a part to play for the first team in the upcoming year.

What do you think of the new look Chelsea attack? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!