Frank Lampard vs Cesc Fabregas – Why the ex-Arsenal captain can replace Chelsea’s legend

Modified Jun 06, 2014 02:42 GMT

Chelsea's midfielder Frank Lampard (R) vies for the ball with Barcelona's midfielder Cesc Fabregas during the UEFA Champions League second leg semi-final football match Barcelona against Chelsea

With Chelsea legend Frank Lampard leaving the club, and the Blues linked with former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas, it spells a summer of change at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard is likely to be heading off to New York to sign for the MLS’s newest franchise, New York City FC, joining David Villa in the process. Meanwhile, Barcelona have apparently told Fabregas that he is free to leave the club for around £30 million.

That has supposedly sparked interest from a number of clubs, mainly Chelsea, Manchester United, Man City and Arsenal.

However, with the Gunners pursuing a striker rather than a creative midfielder, City not desperately needing a new midfielder either and United struggling without Champions League football, the likely destination is west London.

Lampard has had a stellar career at Chelsea, becoming the leading scorer in the club’s history as well as the highest-scoring midfielder in Premier League history. His goodbye will probably only be beaten by John Terry’s when he eventually leaves the club.

Fabregas had a decent campaign leading into this summer, but the fans in Barcelona were not best pleased. The club weren’t either despite Fabregas creating more chances than anyone in the squad besides Lionel Messi.

Last season, the Spaniard played 10 more league games than Lampard did in England. Fabregas appeared 36 times in La Liga for Barcelona as they finished second to Atletico Madrid and trophyless for the first time in several years.

Lampard’s Chelsea finished third, below champions Manchester City and second placed Liverpool. He scored six goals, which was more than Demba Ba and Fernando Torres. Fabregas grabbed two more but over the average of 90 minutes, Lampard scored slightly more with 0.32 to Fabregas’ 0.29.

The Spaniard definitely created a lot more chances than Lampard, though. Fabregas created 58 chances to Lampard’s 33, averaging 2.12 p/90mins to Lampard’s 1.75.

Fabregas was supreme in the final third of the pitch last season, assisting 13 goals which was only beaten – in Europe – by Angel Di Maria (17).

Due to Lampard playing in a slightly deeper role than Fabregas did at Barcelona, he won more tackles and averaged more too. Lampard averaged 1.8 successful tackles to Fabregas’ 1.17 but the Spaniard lost fewer (2.23 to 2.38).

The former Arsenal man also successfully dribbled past more players, which was always going to happen given the lack of mobility in Lampard’s legs nowadays. Fabregas completed 0.88 take-ons per 90 minutes, which wasn’t fantastic, but was more than Lampard (0.37).

Finally, Lampard completed more interceptions, despite Barcelona’s pressing style of play. The Englishman made 0.74 interceptions to Fabregas’ 0.62.

In truth, the comparisons are quite even. Lampard had a decent season under Jose Mourinho while Fabregas slightly struggled in some aspects. Should Mourinho decide to sign Fabregas, he would be a very good signing. Everyone in England knows what he’s capable of having seen it for many years in north London with Arsenal.

Fabregas would not score as many goals as Lampard used to but he would be a strong replacement for the Chelsea legend. The past decade has been Lampard’s reign at Chelsea, but a move for Fabregas could reinvent the midfield for years to come.