The Blues have jumped ahead of Liverpool for Timo Werner’s signature and will have him in their roster alongside Hakim Ziyech.
Much of Europe has been fixated on Bundesliga streaming of late as the football world re-adjusts to COVID-19, such coverage has given many a football fan a chance to watch the German hotshot up close – Frank Lampard included.
Chelsea were in disarray last summer. They were hit with a two-window transfer ban and lost their talisman, Eden Hazard, to Real Madrid. Maurizio Sarri had delivered them the Europa League but did not inspire the Stamford Bridge faithful.
The shrewd Marina Granovskaia found a way to profit from his departure. His contract was handed over to Juventus and Frank Lampard ushered back in. It was supposed to be a dismal season but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Fans are upbeat and there is a general good vibe about this Chelsea side.
Frank Lampard’s return has really changed the mood. The Blues legend is delivering with a weakened team and a squad made up of youth academy graduates. This is a new phenomenon and it has caught everyone’s imagination. Who would have though Chelsea’s all conquering youth side would ever supplement their expensively assembled first team.
While Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have barely featured, their fellow academy graduates have lit up the Premier League. Mason Mount has been exceptional alongside Reece Oxford and Fikayo Tomori. While a lot is expected from the young Billy Gilmour. But the real talisman of the season has been Tammy Abraham.
Handed over the jinxed number 9, the towering youngster has scored 13 goals and has been Lampard’s main scoring outlet. Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud has three goals between them. Consequently, Abraham was forced to play through niggling injuries which has seen him productivity drop.
A prolific forward was a priority to ease burden from Abraham’s shoulders. And Chelsea seem to have found their man. Timo Werner’s head has been turned and for the umpteenth time, Chelsea would have secured a player their direct rivals wanted.
Werner has been in great form for RB Leipzig this term. He has scored 31 goals in 41 competitive outings, 25 of which have come in the Bundesliga. Moreover, the 24-year-old has provided 13 assists, eight of which have come against German top flight rivals. He averages over more than one goal contributions and is the perfect foil to Tammy at the Bridge.
Werner is young, dynamic and versatile. Not only does he add competition to striking Chelsea’s ranks but also gives them more options tactically. Lampard failed to assimilate two strikers in his starting eleven but the German international allows that. While Abraham is in the mold of Didier Drogba, Werner has the pace to become his Nicolas Anelka.
But this is not the only area the Stuttgart native enhances for Chelsea. Werner will add competition on the left flank. He started his career there and likes to dart in from there. Batshuayi’s tenure at the club is at an end but other squad members should be at high alert as well.
After two summer windows of inactivity, Chelsea fans are jubilant again. Werner’s addition is a coup and he arrives for a sum less than what Alvaro Morata cost. The Spaniard was a flop in London but was a victim of circumstances.
Diego Costa with his notoriety was a fan favorite and no one wanted him to leave. Moreover, for €66 million Morata was an expensive purchase who had not led an attack on his own, Werner has.
While Costa and Morata are together in the same dressing room with Atletico Madrid, Chelsea have all the pieces to mount a concerted Premier League title assault. The war chest has been opened and Lampard backed to the hilt. They have quality and strength in numbers.
With Manchester City struggling and Liverpool failing to reinforce, the Blues have a realistic shot at the title. In their meetings with the two juggernauts, they proved they can battle it out with the best. After adding to their ranks, they have surely made the right strides.
