A fourth-place finish in the English Premier League was not satisfying enough for Frank Lampard, and after one season as the Blues' coach, he is ready to make his presence felt
The Blues might bid farewell to up to ten players if they are eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Bayern München. If Lampard's team is unable to turn things around after losing the first leg with a 3-0 score, Saturday's game could be the last hurrah for some big names at Stamford Bridge, according to The Times.
The English newspaper suggests that Lampard's overhaul could see the team's entire defense being up for sale, as the former midfielder would be keen on letting Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Emerson Palmieri, and Marcos Alonso leave the club. The reason? Chelsea's lackluster form in defense, which saw the Blues conceding 54 times, the highest amount for a team inside the top ten in the league.
Another high-profile move would see Kepa Arrizabalaga leave the club either on a permanent transfer or on loan, since the former Athletic Club goalie has lost Lampard's trust and was even left out of the team that lost the FA Cup against Chelsea last weekend.
Midfielders Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ross Barkley and most notable N'Golo Kanté would also leave the club on permanent transfers. Bakayoko has been a massive disappointment at Stamford Bridge, and it remains to be seen if Monaco will execute the buyout clause included in his loan deal. Barkley and Kanté have failed to earn a regular starting spot in Lampard's lineup, and World Cup winner with France in 2018 might still be a good option for clubs in Europe. Barkley may also be a good option for quite a few English clubs.
The two players that complete Lampard's list of outcasts are Michy Batshuayi and Willian. The Belgian striker has not played a single minute for the Blues since February, and Willian has failed to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge beyond next season, which may seen the Brazilian player joining either Arsenal or Tottenham, who have already started negotiations to sign the midfielder.
Chelsea is expected to splash the cash during the offseason, as their already confirmed moves for Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech state. Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell are among the team's reported transfer targets, but the Blues must sell some of these footballers to fund potential moves for more reinforcements.
