The Chelsea Summer Transfers That Have Proven Instant Wins
It was always going to be difficult for Frank Lampard bedding in seven new players into the first team, the vast majority of those both young and having no Premier League experience.
In fact, so difficult it was that it cost the Chelsea legend his job. He always played with that risk though, with Lampard towing a fine line between planning for the future and picking up immediate success.
Lampard’s approach to transfers was a gamble. In the more experienced players he brought in, it felt like he was looking for free scratch cards and some instant wins, while others he was taking a punt, not expecting a big haul of trophies in the short term, but having an excellent hand come two or three years’ time. Thomas Tuchel, or whoever is in charge at that point, will now potentially enjoy those fruits, but who are the new Chelsea stars that have had an immediate impact?
Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva has perhaps had more of an impact on the Chelsea side than many had thought. The club needed to strengthen in the centre half position and Silva has immediately commanded a place in the side, quickly becoming first choice and taking the captain’s armband on a number of occasions.
He’s been involved in all Tuchel’s games before picking up an injury and he’ll likely be straight back in once fit again. The free transfer is out of contract again in the summer, but the Blues are already keen to keep him on for another season.
Ben Chilwell
Former Leicester left back Chilwell has been dropped in recent weeks in place of Marcos Alonso but during Lampard’s reign he was one of the first names on the team sheet.
Chilwell cost Chelsea £45million and has been told by Tuchel that he can win his place back in the first team, where he will undoubtedly shine. All in all, it’s been a decent start for the England star, but that perhaps was never in doubt given his experience in the English topflight and form over the past few seasons.
Edouard Mendy
The Chelsea goalkeeper situation has become a complex one since the arrival of Tuchel. Lampard was firmly favouring £21million Rennes signing Mendy, while Kepa Arrizabalaga has been given a chance in more recent weeks.
Mendy has kept a number of clean sheets so far this season and has proven a strong signing and is averaging 132.4 minutes per goal compared to the 78.5 of Kepa.
Tuchel has been keen to give Kepa a fresh start so while Mendy has done very little wrong it could still see him benched for large periods over the next few months.
Thomas Tuchel
Then of course there’s the manager. Chelsea were in free fall in the final weeks that Lampard was in charge but Roman Abramovich and the fans couldn’t have asked for a better start from Tuchel.
He’s made a number of changes to the side, including bringing Alonso and Callum Hudson-Odoi in as wing backs and tweaking how Kai Havertz and Timo Werner are used within the side. It’s working too, with the Stamford Bridge side having won four of the five games he’s been in charge, with the only other result being a 0-0 draw with Wolves just 24 hours after his arrival.
It’s still early days for the German coach but should he get the likes of Werner firing, then the top four becomes and even more realistic possibility, and would prove to be a very useful signing for the club indeed.
