Chelsea are operating under severe restrictions this summer, but does that mean there’s no fat to trim from Frank Lampard’s squad?
When Roman Abramovich took over as Chelsea owner in 2003, the Blues turned to the transfer market for divine transformation. That pattern has continued despite the club’s 13 managerial changes at Stamford Bridge since.
That’s all changing this summer, though, with the Blues banned from signing new recruits for two windows following improper approaches for U18 players. Even though the club is appealing the decision, it will be forced to go into the new campaign without any new arrivals.
All said, the Blues have offloaded 21 players across the first team and academy – but more could be done. These players, for starters …
Danny Drinkwater
The 29-year-old was signed from Leicester for £35 million in August 2017 but was immediately deemed surplus to requirements under previous manager Maurizio Sarri. Frank Lampard seems to have handed a lifeline to the central midfielder, but it would be wise for Chelsea – already well stocked in central midfield – to get the Englishman off their books.
Drinkwater earns £100,000 a week and is behind the likes of Jorginho, N’Golo Kanté, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the pecking order. It makes sense for all parties to cut him loose.
Davide Zappacosta
Previously signed by Antonio Conte to play in the Italian’s back five, Zappacosta never really got a foothold on the right-back position and quickly fell behind Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order. The 27-year-old has struggled for game time since arriving from Torino in 2017, and only started one Premier League match in 2018-19.
Lampard has Reece James – both young and homegrown – back from an incredibly impressive season at Wigan, while centre back Fikayo Tomori did well under his own watchful eye at Derby.
Zappacosta’s time at Chelsea is surely up, and a return to his homeland looks the most likely outcome here.
Michy Batshuayi
The Batman found life difficult at Stamford Bridge across two seasons in the first team, following his £35m move from Marseille in July 2016. He later joined Borussia Dortmund, Valencia and Crystal Palace on loan returns to Chelsea hoping to make an impression under Lampard.
Tammy Abraham will be given a chance to shine next season, and the Blues have plenty of forward options to call on with Willian, Pedro, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud and new signing Christian Pulisic all keen to fire.
Batshuayi is currently on Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Japan, where he will want to improve his fitness. Nevertheless, he looks likely to move on before the summer transfer window closes.
David Luiz
Yes, really. The 32-year-old Brazilian’s best days are behind him in a Blues shirt, and Luiz could leave to make way for some younger blood.
Kurt Zouma has been linked with a permanent transfer to Everton following his successful loan spell last season at Goodison Park, but could stay put and play a bigger role at Chelsea. Lampard is keen for the 24-year-old Frenchman to stay, and Zouma could compete with Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Tomori for a starting berth.
Luiz recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Blues, which means he’s likely to stay for at least another year. If so, the younger players should come first.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
Signed from Monaco in 2017 for £40m, central midfielder Bakayoko struggled from the beginning and spent last season on loan at Milan. He endured a mixed time in Italy, eventually finding his feet after a slow start before falling out with Gennaro Gattuso.
With Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic now signed up permanently and Kanté highly likely to return to his favoured defensive role in midfield, there isn’t much room for Bakayoko in Lampard’s starting XI.
Marco van Ginkel
Remarkably, Van Ginkel has been a Chelsea player since summer 2013. He endured a tough first season at Stamford Bridge and was then loaned out to Milan, Stoke and most recently PSV, where he helped the Dutch clinch the Eredivisie title.
Jose Mourinho previously compared him to Steven Gerrard and Lampard himself when he signed for the club back in 2013. ‘He covers a fantastic area of the field defensively and after that, he has this instinct where he wants to go into finishing areas, he wants to score goals,’ beamed his former boss. ‘He’s very good in the air.’
Chelsea fans haven’t got to see much of that, however, and the 26-year-old is surplus to requirements. He could yet return to his homeland and join PSV on a permanent deal.