Could a Chelsea star wear the No. 8 during the 2021/22 season?

Numbers hold a significant importance in football. One would be hard pressed to find a No. 9 that isn’t a striker, for example. At Chelsea, these traditions are more flexible now than in years of old, but they are still important nonetheless. No player at Stamford Bridge has worn the No. 25 kit since Gianfranco Zola sported the numerals on his shirt way back in 2002/03. The same goes for John Terry’s famous No. 26 kit. Something tells me it’ll be quite awhile before another player wears either.

Perhaps the aforementioned club legends are able to avoid subsequent uses of their legendary kits because of the uncommon numerals they donned. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for Frank Lampard. Immediately following Super Frank’s departure, Oscar took over the No. 8 and it was a few years after Oscar’s move when Ross Barkley reclaimed it. It seems unlikely now that Barkley plays for the Blues again, so it begs the question, will another Chelsea player wear the No. 8 kit during the 2021/22 campaign?

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Will Mason Mount wear No. 8 next season for Chelsea?

The most obvious candidate for the spot is Mason Mount. Mount came up through the ranks with the Blues under Lampard’s guidance as gaffer. The boo boys on Twitter will always refer to him as Lampard’s son (or Gareth Southgate’s son, depending on whether he’s on England duty), but the comparisons are striking. Both are superstars; versatile midfielders who possess confidence well beyond their years and all the qualities of a leader. Mount is destined to take over soon as club captain, so it’s safe to say he’s a worthy candidate for his former manager’s famous number.

These shouts didn’t just come about though. Mount has been touted to take over the kit since he burst onto the scene two seasons ago. He’s become one of the Blues’ most important players and an absolute fan favorite during his time in the top flight.

The 22-year-old currently sports the No. 19 kit for Chelsea. While there hasn’t been speculation surrounding a number change, the preseason transactions—both departures and arrivals—are far from over. There is a lot of time left between now and August 31, so there will undoubtedly be wiggle room as far as kit numbers are concerned. Fans have now begun to speculate over a switch from Mount’s usual No. 19 to the No. 8 after his recent activity on social media. The Blues star, whose Instagram handle used to be @masonmount10, has now removed the numerals to display just his name. This could be because he is in fact expecting to change kit numbers or simply a necessity given his status as a global football icon. The motivation is unknown, but it is a small tweak that caught supporters’ attention.

All of this being said, Mount doesn’t own the claims to the number should it become available in the first place. Kai Havertz represents another option to wear the well-known kit, he does seem to have a certain link to the No. 29 though. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also looking to make the first team again after a year out on loan. He’s bounced around during his career, wearing a handful of numbers (12, 14 and 36), so he doesn’t have a particular attachment to one. If he makes the cut, the No. 8 kit could be worn by the elder academy graduate, as well.

For all we know, Barkley could make for a surprising inclusion in the team. Everything up to this point is pure speculation, but that’s half the fun when discussing football shirts and numbers. The No. 8 kit would surely have a certain elegant feeling to it on Mount’s back though—especially when paired with the armband in the years ahead.

Who do you believe should be the next No. 8? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!