Chelsea Transfers

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea want a holding midfielder – Lampard does not count Kante as one

https://theathletic.com/2079386/2020/09/21/chelsea-frank-lampard-ngolo-kante-declan-rice/

With two weeks of the transfer window remaining, Chelsea now have a big decision to make. Do they carry on their spending spree and, if so, where?

Chelsea fans will be counting down the minutes until Edouard Mendy walks in the building after another day to forget in goal for Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Mendy signing will take the summer bill to well over £200 million.

Negotiations with Rennes have taken longer than anyone at the club wanted or expected. But it should finally be made official early this week and, judging by the opening two Premier League games, Mendy won’t have long to wait to make his debut once he becomes a Chelsea player.

Anyone who watched their first defeat of the season, 2-0 at home to Liverpool on Sunday, might think a centre-back is still the priority for Frank Lampard. The Chelsea head coach significantly left Antonio Rudiger out of the match-day squad, and it wasn’t because of an injury.

Despite an encouraging 44 minutes, Andreas Christensen was sent off for a professional foul on Saido Mane just before half-time — a crucial mistake that changed the game and will give the Dane’s critics more ammunition as they question his ability at the very highest level.

Substitute Fikayo Tomori saw his first match action since February as a result, but like Rudiger, there are question marks over his future at Stamford Bridge. Granted, Thiago Silva is among those who have been added to the ranks and once fit, will undoubtedly feature regularly, although the Brazilian turns 36 tomorrow so is hardly at his peak.

People will still wonder whether Chelsea have enough quality at the back.

Despite all this, The Athletic has been assured it’s defensive midfield that Lampard sees as the missing piece of the jigsaw, should owner Roman Abramovich’s chequebook be opened one more time.

As has been well documented, the player Lampard craves above all others is Declan Rice, although initially the West Ham United man was being lined up as someone to join and strengthen that back four. That is still an option, but should Chelsea somehow persuade their London rivals to sell, he can play in his regular position in front of the defence too.

But why is this deemed necessary? Now that N’Golo Kante is fit, and with Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic in the squad, Chelsea are well covered there. Much depends on the choice of formation of course, on whether two are sitting in a 4-2-3-1 or just one in a 4-3-3, but it suggests Kante is no longer being considered for the “Claude Makelele role”.

Against Liverpool, the France international was back to playing to the right of the central midfielder  — Jorginho  — in a 4-3-3. That is a shift from Lampard, who used him for five straight games there between June 21 and July 4 before injury got in the way.

Lampard has made it clear that despite interest from Inter Milan the 29-year-old is going nowhere, so it is not a case of Kante no longer being required. So what is the reasoning? An insider explains: “I believe the thinking is for the balance of the squad. Last season, Chelsea didn’t really have a defensive midfielder with the mindset to hold.

“Kante is not a holding midfielder, he wants to leave areas, he wants to go and win the ball back. I believe Lampard wants a holder to just sit there, to break things up, to be more of a physical presence.”

Chelsea could certainly have done with someone like that against the defending champions. As Liverpool pressed high and suffocated the home side, the lack of such a player was obvious.

Former Napoli man Jorginho, who has been linked with a move back to Serie A for several months, found it difficult to disrupt Liverpool’s attacks (he made two tackles and one interception, won 38 per cent of duels, and lost possession 10 times) and did not play the kind of pass Jordan Henderson made for Mane in the build-up to Christensen’s red card.

Kante was busy, without being spectacular, next to Jorginho. He made four tackles, only Reece James had more in a blue shirt, he was involved in a team-high 16 duels, winning 67 per cent of them, and was joint second among Chelsea for possession gained with six and fifth with 62 touches.

The worry from an attacking point of view is that there were no key passes, shots or blocked shots from Kante. Perhaps it was because for most of the 90 minutes he was trying to get back to help Jorginho out.

Amid all the doom and gloom from a humbling loss, a bright spot is that Kante looks sharp. He started just 20 matches in the Premier League last season due to various injury issues.

“He’s fundamental to what I’m trying to do,” Lampard insisted before the season got underway last week. “We can obviously talk about the attacking players we have but someone like N’Golo and the work he does in midfield (is important).

“It was a difficult year for him last year because of the injuries. He came into the season with an injury and it was a domino effect through the year which he hasn’t had and was probably the culmination of (the grind of) game, game, game for himself, so I’m really excited to have him fit. He looks fresh at the moment, so he’s a big deal to me and I want to keep N’Golo.”

Chelsea have been discussing other options in case a move for Rice fails to bear fruit. West Ham’s £80 million asking price is scaring the west Londoners off, although they can offer his fellow England midfielder Ross Barkley in exchange to try to lower the fee.

West Ham will also be reluctant to sell such an asset so soon after the furore caused by Grady Diangana’s recent departure to West Bromwich Albion. For anything to take place, Rice may have to try to force the issue, a step he may be reluctant to take given his relationship with the West Ham fans.

Chelsea could do with key personnel such as Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Ben Chilwell getting fit.

But don’t be surprised if this early setback will have them doing some more significant transfer business before the October 5 deadline.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

4 minutes ago, Jason said:

Chelsea want a holding midfielder – Lampard does not count Kante as one

https://theathletic.com/2079386/2020/09/21/chelsea-frank-lampard-ngolo-kante-declan-rice/

 

 

Still think loaning Ampadu was a mistake, he could probably do the job as a lone DM instead Jorginho.

[Alabama 1,992]

Bin Rice and go for Dennis Zakaria...

[killer1257 3,282]

Bin Rice and go for Dennis Zakaria...

Sadly, Zakaria is not english. If he was, Lampard would go for him

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[R2D2 368]

While I agree it's unfair to deny Lampard his targets after this prolific transfer period bar Chilwell, I really hope he doesn't get it this time, I think anyone on this forum can tell who is the better player between Rice and Zakaria let alone price.

Wouldn't be surprised one bit if Lampard only wants Rice here to make Mount happy and bring his bud close to him, there was a training video a few days ago with Mount and Chilwell as well playing together and being happy which would explain why we went for him, despite the embarrassing price tag and coming injured.

[Alabama 1,992]

14 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

Sadly, Zakaria is not english. If he was, Lampard would go for him

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I hope the club is not stupid enough to go for Rice considering his price tag...Rice is an average defensive midfielde...Dennis is a quality Defensive midfielder and zillion miles better and ahead of Rice...Rice will add the the backlog of average players we all hoping the club will move on...Alonso Barkley Emerson Christesen Rudiger etc are enough average players in the club....dont want the club to add another average dud...wither Dennis or another quality player or nobody...

[killer1257 3,282]

I hope the club is not stupid enough to go for Rice considering his price tag...Rice is an average defensive midfielde...Dennis is a quality Defensive midfielder and zillion miles better and ahead of Rice...Rice will add the the backlog of average players we all hoping the club will move on...Alonso Barkley Emerson Christesen Rudiger etc are enough average players in the club....dont want the club to add another average dud...wither Dennis or another quality player or nobody...

You do not have to tell me that Zakaria is better than Rice. I have been saying this for ages now. Zakaria is not available this summer, but will be next summer. I think ge might even like Chelsea because he liked the Havertz to Chelsea transfer in Instagram.

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[Jase 43,479]

13 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

You do not have to tell me that Zakaria is better than Rice. I have been saying this for ages now. Zakaria is not available this summer, but will be next summer. I think ge might even like Chelsea because he liked the Havertz to Chelsea transfer in Instagram.

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Is Lampard following Zakaria on Instagram? If so, we might have a chance.  

[killer1257 3,282]

Is Lampard following Zakaria on Instagram? If so, we might have a chance. [emoji38] 

Sadly, Lampard has not liked him lol

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[Pizy 18,368]

If true, I hope whoever it is we target for the position is someone who can grab a big game by the scruff of the neck. Tired of Jorginho disappearing and getting bullied in the biggest matches. He's one of the best around at keeping and recycling the ball normally, but when we play the top teams he suddenly devolves into shit.

We need someone powerful and commanding there. If not, someone exceptionally skilled like Thiago.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

there was a training video a few days ago with Mount and Chilwell as well playing together and being happy which would explain why we went for him, despite the embarrassing price tag and coming injured.

This is getting ultra ridiculous, I’m out. [emoji2961]

[NikkiCFC 7,952]

Based on last 3,4 games Rice played, Bakayoko could do that. 

[Superblue 6,370]

2 hours ago, R2D2 said:

While I agree it's unfair to deny Lampard his targets after this prolific transfer period bar Chilwell, I really hope he doesn't get it this time, I think anyone on this forum can tell who is the better player between Rice and Zakaria let alone price.

Wouldn't be surprised one bit if Lampard only wants Rice here to make Mount happy and bring his bud close to him, there was a training video a few days ago with Mount and Chilwell as well playing together and being happy which would explain why we went for him, despite the embarrassing price tag and coming injured.

Yes I'm sure the only reason we signed Chilwell was because Mount asked Lampard to sign him as it would make him happy.

Nothing to do with him being England's first choice left back who's earned that by playing well for Leicester and then in an England shirt? Young, pacey, athletic, capable of getting up and down the flank, still room to grow and develop, homegrown,premier league experience and we managed to get him for around half the price of what was originally being quoted a few months ago?

Easily one of the most pathetic posts I've ever seen on this forum in my time here.

[Jase 43,479]

4 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Yes I'm sure the only reason we signed Chilwell was because Mount asked Lampard to sign him as it would make him happy.

Nothing to do with him being England's first choice left back who's earned that by playing well for Leicester and then in an England shirt? Young, pacey, athletic, capable of getting up and down the flank, still room to grow and develop, homegrown,premier league experience and we managed to get him for around half the price of what was originally being quoted a few months ago?

Easily one of the most pathetic posts I've ever seen on this forum in my time here.

Surprised no one has tried to say we only bought Havertz just to make Werner comfortable considering how happy they are to be playing together...

[Superblue 6,370]

10 minutes ago, Jason said:

Surprised no one has tried to say we only bought Havertz just to make Werner comfortable considering how happy they are to be playing together...

That has to be the reason mate because Lampard only likes to sign and play English players.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Surprised no one has tried to say we only bought Havertz just to make Werner comfortable considering how happy they are to be playing together...

Isn’t it obvious? [emoji185]

[killer1257 3,282]

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[Vesper 28,820]

4 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

Based on last 3,4 games Rice played, Bakayoko could do that. 

Yes, Rice (and I have been a big booster so that adds to legitimacy of my comments) has been dregs lately at DMF. Very poor.

Denis Zakaria is the best traditional cruncher DMF out there atm who is remotely available, Thomas Partey (who is quite versatile actually) is second, massive drop off after that.