According to a recent report by Metro, quoting an Instagram video by ESPN FC, Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland has picked Chelsea manager Frank Lampard as the one retired player that he would’ve most liked to play alongside. Speaking to ESPN FC correspondent Alexis Nunes for a rapid-fire Q&A session, the Norwegian international forward was asked to name one retired player that he would’ve loved to play in the same team with. The Dortmund ace, unexpectedly, named Chelsea gaffer Frank Lampard as that man, in what comes as a massive endorsement of the Englishman’s quality as a player.
What Is The Current Strike Situation At Stamford Bridge?
One of Chelsea’s biggest problem positions over the last decade has been at centre-forward, and despite all the money that they’ve spent trying to fill that role efficiently, something or the other just seems to go wrong on every instance. It began with the winter acquisition of former Spanish international forward Fernando Torres all those years ago. Although he did make a couple of crucial contributions, the Spaniard is often classed as a Stamford Bridge flop.
Going by those standards, if Torres’ stint with Chelsea was a flop, then it’s safe to say that the Blues haven’t had a successful Premier League striker since Didier Drogba’s first spell at the club came to an end in the summer of 2012. Big names like Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Andriy Shevchenko, Hernan Crespo and Falcao have come and gone over the years, and not a single one of them were able to nail down the starting spot leading the Chelsea line.
If there was one player who ever came close to replicating what Drogba had achieved at Chelsea, then it was Spanish striker Diego Costa. The Brazilian-born attacker could’ve spearheaded the Blues’ attack for a long time given his quality, but his poor relationship with former manager Antonio Conte ended his association with the London club prematurely. In Tammy Abraham, Lampard does have a much better option than some of the names that this West London crowd have seen over the years, but his lack of experience could be a concern.
What Makes Erling Haaland Such An Attractive Prospect?
The Norwegian international speedster has been nothing short of a sensation since breaking through the ranks at RB Salzburg. His almost inhuman goalscoring rate tempted Dortmund to sign him up in January, and it’s safe to say that the transfer has already begun to pay dividends. The big man scored nine times from eight Bundesliga fixtures this season, while his record of 10 goals from 8 Champions League matches is a truly commendable return too.
The Dortmund ace looks to have one of the most well-rounded skill-sets in the whole of Europe, in that there’s not much that he can’t do while out on the pitch. Explosively quick and extremely difficult to stop once in full flow, Haaland’s emergence as a high-quality centre-forward certainly hasn’t gone under the radar either. The youngster’s exploits in the German first-division have been quite magnificent, and his signature will surely be one of the most sought-after commodities in the seasons to come.
Should Frank Lampard Turn To Haaland As A Striker Option?
The Blues’ concerns in front of goal this season have been no secret, and a lot of that was down to a lack of chemistry between the players. Haaland is the kind of striker who doesn’t mind what type of delivery he gets, as he’s more than capable of finishing off chances of all forms. Lampard’s search for a new striker has taken the transfer rumour mill all over the world in the last couple of months. It would be in the London club’s best interest to drop their search for a forward and just go all-in for the services of prodigious Norwegian forward Erling Haaland.
