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A couple of weeks into his new job, Frank Lampard has been maximizing his available resources to jot the best combination within the Chelsea squad. The Blues have participated in four pre-season friendlies, namely against Bohemians, St. Patrick’s Athletic, Kawasaki Frontale and Barcelona.
The management has tried out various formations and granted opportunities to more or less every player involved in the training camp. One such exception was Chelsea’s young defensive prospect Ethan Ampadu, who joined RB Leipzig on loan.
Lampard had earlier revealed:
"I tried to sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year so I’m a big fan, but with the minutes he played last year, in the interest of Ethan and of Chelsea, the idea he can play a lot of games somewhere could be good for him."
The club’s record goalscorer summarized it as well as it could have, as for youngsters to progress and hone their tactical acumen, it’s important to play elsewhere in search of vital minutes on the pitch.
Presently, the Chelsea squad boasts of eight midfielders, about five central defenders and as many as six full-backs. Not to mention, Lampard has a healthy selection headache with respect to the strike force, especially after youngster Tammy Abraham’s impressive staging against Barcelona.
Surely, not all of them are going to be on the 18-man squad list for various competitions where the Blues will be plying their trade in, and on that note, we list five players who Chelsea must loan out before the start of the forthcoming season.
#5 Reece James
Reece James caught the eyes of the world with his breakthrough season at Wigan Athletic last season, putting in consistent shifts down the right side of the back line.
James is physical, astute and often remarkable with the way he reads the pace of play and tirelessly runs down the flank, but most importantly, the full-back possesses maturity way beyond his years.
Such a player who is into the kernels of his career has got to play regular football. After the stellar season he had last year, only experience and regular football can expose him to both his strengths and shortcomings.
However, the same cannot be promised at Chelsea, who are well stacked with full-backs already. Obviously, no other player at the moment is going to displace club skipper Cesar Azpilicueta, who has arguably been the most consistent right-back in the Premier League for quite a few years now.
With the explosive and attack-minded Davide Zappacosta present as cover, it’s highly unlikely that James will find game time in the middle.
#4 Tiemoue Bakayoko
Tiemoue Bakayoko earned his first cap for France in March 2017 for his astonishingly world-class performances for AS Monaco, but as soon as he took the giant stride to sign for Chelsea, the midfielder’s career took a detour.
The 24-year-old struggled to cope with the physicality, arduous and back-breaking nature of the league, often drawing criticism for his lack of concentration, lethargic approach on the pitch and poor finishing.
A loan move at AC Milan proved to be the escape route for the Frenchman, but since returning to the pre-season camp at Chelsea, a few of the midfielder’s flaws have again come under the scanner.
Despite being granted opportunities by Lampard, Bakayoko has failed to live up to expectations or make a case for himself. With some seven midfielders in the running for the three/four midfield spots in Lampard’s midfield system, it’s highly unlikely that Bakayoko will make the cut.
#3 Kasey Palmer
Pedro and Willian have been servants at Chelsea for quite some time now, and with the acquisition of Christian Pulisic along with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s potential new deal, Kasey Palmer doesn’t seem to be a man in the reckoning for a spot in Chelsea’s forward line.
In fact, Lampard might not even field more than one winger should he deploy the 4-1-2-1-2 (midfield diamond) configuration, thereby cutting short Palmer’s chances at Stamford Bridge for the upcoming term. Lampard refrained from using the winger against Barcelona as well.
The 22-year-old deals with frenetic pace, as far as his work ethic with the ball is considered. He is an exciting young prospect, someone who can use his speed and guile to fabricate goals. Although yet to don the Chelsea shirt, Palmer was named as an unused substitute in April 2016 against Swansea City, when Guus Hiddink was steadying the Blues’ ship post-Jose Mourinho’s axing.
The Lewisham-born winger has experienced brief loan spells at Huddersfield Town, Derby County, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City, so it’d be wise of Chelsea to give him an opportunity in the Premier League this time around.
#2 Fikayo Tomori
Named the Derby County Player of the Season last campaign for his remarkable performances at the heart of defence alongside the experience of Richard Keogh, Fikayo Tomori was another Chelsea man who stood out while on loan.
He has been in the scheme of the action in pre-season, but it’s highly unlikely that he will beat Andreas Christensen, David Luiz, Kurt Zouma or Antonio Rudiger to the centre half spot.
His case is similar to that of Reece James, and while his Derby teammate Mason Mount is expected to encircle the team’s structure from attacking midfield, Tomori might have to undergo another loan deal.
At 21 years of age, Tomori expressed his grit and fitness levels as well, amassing a stunning 47 league appearances in the Championship last time around. With the momentum on his side, it’ll only be Chelsea’s loss if they do not loan him out for another season or two.
#1 Danny Drinkwater
Danny Drinkwater’s progress at Chelsea took a massive blow when Maurizio Sarri opted to freeze him out of the first team procedures prior to the start of last season. The 28-year-old has got a unique blend of attributes, as he is one who can buy fouls for the team, find the long pass in a nanosecond and complement his partner to great effect.
The same was witnessed when himself and N’Golo Kante masterminded Leicester City’s jaw-dropping Premier League triumph.
Lampard is expected to field one deep-lying playmaker behind two free-flowing midfielders in front, who will push the wingers out to wider spaces, make daunting runs into the box and press high up the pitch.
This does not necessarily suit Drinkwater’s style of play, who is best when the team is functioning in a 4-2-3-1 system. Should Lampard choose the same, we can still expect him to be behind Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic in the pecking order.
Therefore, amid fierce competition for the midfield places, it’s best for Drinkwater to look elsewhere for regular football.
