Werner and Ziyech force Chelsea's youngsters aside

It’s not yet July and Chelsea have already been busy in the transfer market. It was announced as early as February that Hakim Ziyech would join from Ajax in the summer on a five-year deal. Meanwhile, on Saturday striker Timo Werner made his final appearance for RB Leipzig ahead of a £47.5m move, having scored 95 goals in 159 games for the German outfit.

Following a UEFA ban that prevented any incoming transfers in the 2019/20 campaign, the London club have wasted little time in planning for next season. Given that Pedro has already agreed a deal at AS Roma, and fellow veteran Willian is set to follow him out of west London, Frank Lampard must be pleased that the club has managed to acquire two new forwards with a minimum of fuss.

With Christian Pulisic the only arrival at Stamford Bridge last summer (the USA international was signed in January 2019), Lampard instead turned to academy graduates who might have otherwise departed either on loan or permanently. His faith has been repaid. Fans have been able witness English prospects such as Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi in a blue shirt, and all have caught the eye outside of Fulham Road as well.

In fairness to the trio, all three were fully deserving of their place in the side. Mount spent the previous campaign under Lampard at Derby, where the two made their first steps in the respective senior roles, and did enough to warrant a place in the manager’s plans when they returned to Stamford Bridge. Abraham also spent a season in the Championship where he scored 26 league goals for Aston Villa as they returned to the Premier League, defeating Lampard’s Derby in the play-off final. Hudson-Odoi, meanwhile, had already become the youngest player to start for England in March 2019.

How will Werner and Ziyech fit in?

The arrival of Werner and Ziyech, partnered with Pulisic’s progress during his debut season, means that the trio may suddenly be asked to take a backseat. As with Pulisic this season, it could be Lampard chooses to slowly introduce the former two rather than make them immediate starters. However, it is clear that his long-term plan involves his new signings.

And with good reason, too. Werner departs Leipzig having scored 28 goals and assisted a further eight in the Bundesliga this season, on average one every 78 minutes. Abraham has managed an impressive 13 league goals in his breakthrough season along with three assists but, at one goal contribution every 123 minutes, his rate is not at the same level as that of the German’s.

Olivier Giroud has been preferred to Abraham in both of Chelsea’s league games since the restart. Although this could be a ploy from Lampard to placate the Frenchman, who signed a contract extension last month, it suggests that despite his early-season promise Abraham is not as vital as he might have hoped. Furthermore, the academy graduate has failed to find the net in any of his last seven appearances for the Blues, in which time Giroud has scored three.

On the left wing, Hudson-Odoi’s injuries have come just as it seemed he would take the Premier League by storm. Instead he has managed eight goal contributions across all competitions this season, and has had to watch on as his compatriots have excelled. In contrast, Pulisic has seven league goals alone. He made an instant impact in Chelsea’s first game after the restart, which he followed with another goal and outstanding performance in Thursday’s win over Manchester City. At 19, Hudson-Odoi has youth on his side but Pulisic is only two years older. The competition is probably healthier than he would like.

Of the three, Mount is most likely to find a place in the first-team plans. His flexibility means that, rather then the right-wing spot Ziyech is set to occupy, Lampard could utilise his skills in midfield just as he did at Derby. His ten goal contributions in the Premier League this season dwarf those of Jorginho (six), Mateo Kovacic (four), N’Golo Kante and Ross Barkley (three apiece). Who better to learn under, too, than his current manager, a man who became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer from the centre of the pitch? Mount netted 11 times for the Rams last season under Lampard’s tutelage and has six goals to his name this term (only two of which have come as a winger). Of the current personnel at Lampard’s disposal, only Barkley is likely to be a contender in this role.

However, Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s return from injury suddenly means that there are seven central midfielders on the club’s books (excluding loanees – good luck counting those). Should Lampard opt for different tactics, it is likely that Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek or even Billy Gilmour would be preferred for their aptitude on the defensive side. Barkley too has shown the attributes to be considered first in a deeper role.

Further arrivals

Of course, there could be another obstacle to Mount holding down a place behind the forward line: Kai Havertz. Chelsea are not the only club to be linked to the 21-year-old midfielder who has scored more league goals than any other Leverkusen player this season. However, having had a year to squirrel away funds while other clubs have spent, Chelsea are seemingly in pole position. Despite having close to £85m so far on Werner and Ziyech, the club kitty has been swollen by the £13.4m Atalanta paid for Mario Palasic after a successful loan spell. Alvaro Morata has also signed permanently for Atletico for £50m.

With Michy Batshuayi also expected to leave, Chelsea will likely have the money to win any bidding war for Havertz, The stats suggest he would be worth the price. The German ended the Bundesliga season with 12 goals (the highest of any player to feature in midfield) and having made 59 key passes (ninth-highest in the league). By comparison, Mount has delivered 44 such passes in almost exactly the same number of minutes. The Englishman, however, does boast a superior dribble success rate (61% to Havertz’s 47.9%). Nonetheless, passing up the opportunity to sign the Leverkusen starlet would be a huge gamble.

Of course, as Hudson-Odoi, can attest, plans do not always unfold as hoped. New signings may not adapt instantly to the Premier League, and injuries are unpredictable. Chelsea are used to competing on multiple fronts and every player will get an opportunity to feature. This season has been a resounding success for the club’s academy as their representatives have proven that they can make it in the first team and it would be a shame to see such young English talent return to the bench. Having been involved in their development, one expects Lampard to feel the same way. Whether he can find a way to include them alongside his shiny new players remains to be seen. Either way, it’s not a bad problem to have.

Stats via WhoScored.