Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has admitted the first-team opportunities Frank Lampard has given to the talented group of English graduates from Chelsea’s academy is partly due to the two-window ban.
Buck also revealed Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is happy with Lampard for giving opportunities to youngsters at the club.
“The transfer ban has led to more opportunities for the young players,” Buck told The Guardian.
“I can’t deny that if there wasn’t a transfer ban we might have splurged out on one or two or three players.
“So, yes, it was some of that; it was Frank Lampard, the players that were ready, a whole collection of things that resulted in where we are now.
“It makes Mr Abramovich very happy, because he is very interested in the academy. I would guess he’s one of the very few owners that have been to lots of academy matches.”