Frank Lampard will be looking to overhaul his Chelsea squad in summer with several players already linked with moves to Stamford Bridge. It was a luxury the Englishman could not afford last summer when he first became Blues boss due to the start of the club’s transfer ban.
However, The Blues had also just lost star player Eden Hazard in an £89million transfer to Real Madrid, which was a further blow. On appeal, that transfer ban was reduced to one window and Chelsea were able to sign players in January but they resisted the temptation to dip into the market. That will change this summer, though, with one signing already confirmed.
The Blues reached an agreement with Ajax to bring Hakim Ziyech to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, with the deal being done just 12 days after the January window closed. It would be surprising if Chelsea make just one addition in the summer, especially considering their inactivity in the market over the last year and their inconsistent form.
They are still fourth in the Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after beating Liverpool but have struggled for results at Stamford Bridge.
Left-back is an area Lampard is reportedly looking to strengthen despite Marcos Alonso’s good performances in recent weeks that has seen him scored three goals in the Blues’ last two Premier League games. Alex Telles has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge after reportedly turning down a new contract offer from Porto.
Portuguese publication A Bola claim the club will cash in on Telles this summer to avoid him leaving on a free transfer when his contract expires in 2021.
Leicester defender Ben Chillwell is another name touted as a possible replacement but the Porto man would be a more affordable alternative. It has also been claimed Lampard is ready to axe up to eight players from his current squad as he looks to put his own stamp on the team.
One of those is likely to be goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who was recently dropped from the starting line-up in favour of veteran Willy Caballero. Reports suggest the Blues will make an audacious bid to try and lure Jan Oblak away from Atletico Madrid by offering Kepa plus £25million.
Here is how Chelsea could line-up next season with Telles, Ziyech and Oblak in the starting line-ups.
