Frank knows there’s lots Tomori to come
FRANK LAMPARD insists Fikayo Tomori’s long-term future remains at Chelsea.
England international Tomori has been earmarked for a loan switch this month, with AC Milan, Leeds and Newcastle all interested in the 23-year-old defender.
He has played just four times this season and Chelsea believe a temporary move can help him fulfil his potential.
Lampard’s sparse use of Tomori had led to suggestions of a permanent switch but the Blues boss insists the coveted defender can still flourish in west London.
‘Fikayo Tomori absolutely has a longterm future at this club, and we’ll see if and when he goes on loan,’ said Lampard, who was also Tomori’s manager when he spent 2018-19 on loan at Derby.
‘The moment I got close to Fikayo was when I took him to Derby with me and he was player of the year there and one of the best players in the Championship that year in my opinion.
‘Then he came back and played 20-plus games for us at a very young age last year
and got in the England squad. There’s an absolute long-term plan for Fikayo in my head about his career here.
‘If it’s to go and play games it’s to absolutely enhance his personal development.’
Reece James and Andreas Christensen will come back into contention for Saturday’s trip to neighbours Fulham after minor injuries but N’Golo Kante will miss out through suspension.
Lampard is still working to assimilate £220million-worth of summer signings and revealed the last fortnight – which included a 4-0 FA Cup victory over Morecambe – has provided an extended chance to drill down into tactical detail.
‘When you’ve had a few games where you don’t win it’s clear the players need to stay positive,’ said Lampard. ‘I’ve seen good reactions from the players in those terms, the players have worked hard.
‘It’s the first chance this season we’ve had to work on the bigger elements of our game. So that’s been one positive out of the last two weeks, and now our players need to show that.’