Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has been urged to splurge into the transfer market to seal deals for the club.
Chelsea’s fine form at some point this season has now dwindled with the Blues having lost four of their last five league matches. Arsenal legend Paul Merson has advised Lampard to make three signings in the January transfer window. Merson has told Lampard to sign a left-back, a striker to compete with Tammy Abraham and also a top centre-back.
In his Daily Star Sport column, Merson said: “If Chelsea do the right deals in January they can book their ticket to a top four finish now their transfer ban has been lifted. “They are right in the hunt already but they have teams breathing down their neck now and the youngsters could do with some help.
“They need a centre forward to take the load off Tammy Abraham for a start. He’s done brilliantly but you can’t rely on him alone for the rest of the season.
“I think Olivier Giroud will go. He’s hardly played and isn’t getting any younger. So they will need to replace him. “They might need a more experienced centre half if Antonio Rudiger isn’t going to be 100 per cent for the rest of the season – and they need a left back as well.
“But they don’t need major surgery. I don’t think they will spend big. Frank Lampard was a hard-working player. He will only want to buy that type of player.
“He won’t want to be paying £80m for a superstar who just does enough in training and doesn’t pull his weight in matches. “Chelsea’s kids have done well but there are times when they will need to be taken out of the team. Buy the right three players and I think they’re guaranteed to make the Champions League.”Q