Premier League giants Chelsea have, without a doubt, been the most active team in the 20/21 summer transfer window. Not only have they completed several signings, but unlike some of their English rivals, a majority of them have been marquee ones. When Frank Lampard took over as the new manager of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea actually had a transfer ban to deal with. What this means was that upon arriving, the Stamford Bridge legend wasn’t able to add any names to his roster.
The only player that made his way into the team was American sensation Christian Pulisic, who was only given the green light because Chelsea already had a deal in place with Borussia Dortmund before the ban was handed to them. Not only did the speedster take to Premier League football like a duck to water, but he took next to no time to endear himself with the Chelsea faithful. Chelsea’s frustration over UEFA’s decision to ban them led to Lampard’s side appealing the move to the CAS.
Fortunately for them, the CAS verdict cut their ban short to one window, instead of the two that it initially was. This then meant that Chelsea could go out and do the business they desired in January. Lampard though was adamant that his side had the required resources to get through the season, and that he wouldn’t make any panic buys just for the sake of buying. Although their complete inactivity in the winter wasn’t received very well by fans, they’ve now shown the perfect reaction to what was a dire situation.
Lampard’s desire to bring in new players has never been a secret, and the kind of expectations that fans place on the club are massive too. Having gone the entire season without winning a trophy, despite having been in two cup finals, the fans were not pleased with the progress that they had made. Signings in the summer were imminent, but few would’ve predicted what was to come from Chelsea. They ended up completing a total of eight incoming acquisitions in total, all of which, either immediately, or in the long run, will improve the side.
Ranking Chelsea’s 8 Summer Signings On Importance This Season:
Ranking Chelsea’s 8 Summer Signings On Importance This Season
8. Xavier Mbuyamba
Dutch teenager Mbuyamba is among the highest-rated young defenders in the European game today. The former member of the Barcelona academy is still only 18 and will need to be given time and nurturing to come good. Often touted to be Virgil Van Dijk’s successor, expecting the youngster to deliver anything for the first-team this season would be pushing it.
7. Malang Sarr
Sarr is another promising central defender that Chelsea were able to acquire on a free transfer this summer. The former OGC Nice man has been scouted by some of the best clubs in the world over the years, and at 21, could still have an impact at Chelsea in the years to come. Despite being versatile enough to play in a number of positions, it’s unlikely that Sarr will have any part to play in Lampard’s team this season.
6. Hakim Ziyech
The Moroccan trickster is one of the best dribblers in the European game right now, and his services will be of crucial importance to Chelsea this season. Although that is the case, Ziyech finds himself positioned so low on this list only because of Chelsea’s abundance of options in the wide areas. Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic are all alternatives. By no means does this mean that Ziyech won’t have a part to play this season though.
5. Kai Havertz
Another one of the real blockbuster signings that Chelsea were able to compete over the summer was that of Germans superstar Kai Havertz. Not only was he wanted by some of the best teams in the continent, but his numbers from the last Bundesliga season were something to marvel at as well. The directness and sheer flair that he brings to Chelsea’s midfield will be crucial in a majority of the Blues’ attacking play this season.
4. Thiago Silva
The Brazilian veteran is one of the most celebrated defenders in the world, and his experience and physical dominance will be vital if Chelsea are to achieve something this season. The Blues’ defensive fragility from the last campaign was no secret, and in the limited time he has been at the club, he has already made a big difference. The likes of Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen can learn a lot from the Brazilian, who despite his ripe age, will have a massive part to play.
3. Ben Chilwell
The former Leicester City speedster has been Lampard’s number one target since he first joined at the start of last season. Although the Blues tried to bring him in during the winter as well, they were seemingly unable to convince the Foxes to sell. Left-back has been a problem position for Chelsea for some seasons, and Chilwell’s arrival will come as a breath of fresh air. By putting up a man of the match performance in their recent league win against Palace, Chilwell has managed to announce his arrival in the best possible manner.
2. Edouard Mendy
For the longest time, it looked like Chelsea would be going into the new season with Kepa Arrizabalaga continuing as the number one goalkeeper. Despite being linked with some of the biggest names in Europe, the lack of concrete talks was a worrying sign for Chelsea fans all over the world. When they announced the signing of Mendy from Rennes though, all of that pressure went out of the window. The Senegalese international has already taken over as the number one at Stamford Bridge, and his importance to the side simply cannot be underplayed.
1. Timo Werner
The last big-money strike signing that Chelsea made was that of Alvaro Morata. Buying strikers has often proved to be the Blues’ Achilles heel, but it looks like they’ve got it right this time around. The former Leipzig man was one of the Bundesliga’s standout performers last season, with Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandoski the only player who outscored Werner. His pace and finishing abilities will be crucial to anything that Chelsea might achieve this season, and the initial signs from his performances have all been positive too.
