FRANKLY, NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Lamps plotting big summer changes in Blues’ defence after Bayern humiliation
FRANK LAMPARD wants to rip up his leaky defence this summer and start again following Chelsea’s humbling by Bayern Munich.
Lampard’s team were thumped 3-0 at Stamford Bridge by the German giants on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Blues have kept only seven clean sheets in 39 games so far this season.
The Chelsea boss was already planning a summer revamp – but Kurt Zouma, Marcos Alonso, Emerson, and No.2 keeper Willy Caballero could now all be moved on. As could first-choice keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, if a buyer for the £71.6million Spaniard is found.
In all, with several contracts ending, as many as 10 players could be heading out of the door at the end of this season.
Chelsea are considering a swap deal for Arrizabalaga with Atletico Madrid for their Slovenia keeper Jan Oblak in the summer, with Burnley’s Nick Pope also an option.
Lampard likes RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano and Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell – but securing Champions League football will be crucial in attracting new players.
The race for the top four has now assumed even greater importance for Lampard, with his side’s European campaign almost certainly over.
His position is not under any immediate threat – but the failure to hang on to their top-four place would weaken his standing in the summer.
The Chelsea hierarchy are keen for the 41-year-old to succeed, especially as he has had only one transfer window in which to strengthen his squad after the club’s FIFA ban was lifted. And in that window in January, Chelsea did not sign a single player.
Also, Lampard already has a lengthy injury list to contend with – N’golo Kante, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-odoi and Ruben Loftus-cheek are all sidelined, and Tammy Abraham’s new setback is a major blow.
Olivier Giroud is now set to figure on Saturday at Bournemouth, after top-scorer Abraham aggravated an ankle problem against Bayern. But he and Pedro are both set to leave in the summer as free agents.
Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi will also be allowed to leave if a buyer can be found, as will midfielder Ross Barkley. And
Willian is also likely to depart after contract talks with the club broke down.
Chelsea have already begun their spending for the summer, splashing out £37m on Ajax forward Hakim Ziyech, who will join in July.
“It’s going to be almost impossible,” said Giroud of the task facing Chelsea in the second leg with Bayern on March 18.
“But we need to go there with belief, to believe that we can score.
“They scored three here, so we need to go there and score three and not concede. I’m not joking.
“But you don’t have to keep your head down. We’ve got to bounce back as soon as possible.”