Chelsea

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has spoken of his excitement at what Hakim Ziyech will bring to the club next season. 

The Blues confirmed on Thursday they have agreed a deal with Ajax for the transfer of the Morocco international, with the player joining in the summer subject to personal terms being agreed.

Speaking to Chelsea's official website, Lampard noted he had seen Ziyech's creativity firsthand this season and said he believes the winger's productivity will be a big asset to the team:

"I know his qualities. He's a player we hope can bring creativity. He first came to my attention watching him play in Ajax's Champions League run last year and I thought he was one of their standout players, particularly in the games against Tottenham.

"... This season, we've come up against him twice so I know a lot about him. He has a great left foot, plays generally off the right-hand side but can play in behind the frontman as well. When you look at us this season, there have been games where we've maybe struggled to unlock the door, and he's certainly a player who we hope can bring that bit of creativity.

"He will be something different for us so we're excited. I know he's not coming in now but I think it's exciting for us as a club and for the fans to know that he'll be here next year."

Ziyech has scored some great goals for Ajax:

Your favourite 𝙕𝙞𝙮𝙚𝙘𝙝 goal? _______🖋

We’ve selected…🧙‍♂️
➊ Valencia (A)
➋ Tottenham Hotspur (H)
➌ Real Madrid (A)
➍ …watch! ↓

#𝚆𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚛𝚍𝙾𝚏𝙰𝙼𝚂

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 13, 2020

Squawka Football summed up how much of an influence Ziyech has had on the team in Amsterdam:

Hakim Ziyech in the Eredivisie since 2017/18:

⬢ Most shots
⬢ Most assists
⬢ Most crosses
⬢ Most through balls
⬢ Most chances created
⬢ Most final third recoveries
⬢ Most Big Chances created
⬢ Most goals outside the box

Yup. Dominant. pic.twitter.com/gyhF7cOjTy

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2020

Chelsea were frustrated in their attempts to add to the squad in January, but Lampard will be delighted to have such a quality player ready to come aboard in the summer.

Ziyech has lit up the UEFA Champions League in recent seasons. He is capable of firing shots at goal, creating chances and dribbling past opponents.

B/R Football's Sam Tighe thinks the signing is a smart one and will set the precedent for a busy transfer window for the Blues:

Ziyech is great. Wand of a left foot, positionally versatile, presses hard.

Fantastic pickup for Chelsea, great start to what is probably a pretty busy year of transfers for them.

— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) February 13, 2020

StatsBomb provided a breakdown of where Ziyech tends to have the biggest influence:

Hakim Ziyech. You gotta be really good at a whole lot of stuff to justify a shot chart that looks like that. And he is. pic.twitter.com/Am1Rnjiyl1

— Hudl Statsbomb (@Statsbomb) February 13, 2020

With Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Willian jostling for spots in the team in attacking midfield berths, Chelsea are stacked with talent. 

Ziyech's class and versatility means he will almost certainly be a regular starter at Stamford Bridge in 2020-21 and beyond. It will be intriguing to see how one of European football's most enigmatic talents deals with the robust and high-tempo nature of English football.

Chelsea on Thursday reached an agreement with Ajax to sign Hakim Ziyech at the end of the season. 

Ajax announced the news via the club's official Twitter account:

138 days of magic left.
Let’s enjoy every single touch… ✨

#𝚆𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚛𝚍𝙾𝚏𝙰𝙼𝚂

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 13, 2020

The Dutch club revealed the Blues will pay a fee of €40 million (£33.3 million) for him, potentially rising to €44 million (£36.7 million). 

Chelsea also confirmed the move, which is still subject to Ziyech agreeing personal terms.

Ajax paid further tribute to their departing star with a look at some of his highlights on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/AFCAjax/status/1227926942122414081

The Dutch outfit's manager, Erik ten Hag, is delighted the 26-year-old had remained in Amsterdam for as long as he did:

Ajax are just happy Ziyech stayed as long as he did 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/I72HeyEdCQ

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 12, 2020

He signed for Ajax from Twente in 2016. The Morocco international has since made 160 appearances, contributing 48 goals and 82 assists in that time. He played a key role in the team winning the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup last season, as well as their sensational run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

This season, he has eight goals and 21 assists to his name in 30 games. People are excited by the signing:

My oh my Chelsea are getting something special in Hakim Ziyech

— Elko Born (@Elko_B) February 12, 2020

Would be very happy with Chelsea signing Ziyech, whether he’s playing through the middle or off the right. He’s got exactly the attributes Chelsea need. I’d love to know why clubs didn’t go for him last summer when everyone was poaching from Ajax. https://t.co/x2wozci5WG

— Alex McGovern (@AlexMcGovern11) February 12, 2020

Ziyech's Ajax team-mate Donny van de Beek congratulated him on the move and told Voetbal Primeur (h/t Goal's James Westwood):

"I wish him everything and I hope he will do very well there. It is a step he deserves in my opinion. He is a fantastic football player, so I am confident that he will do well.

"I think it's a very nice club with a lot of young players that can grow. I think Hakim will certainly be in [the right] place."

Ziyech typically plays as a No. 10 or on the right wing, and he could help to replace the spark Chelsea have lacked in the final third since Eden Hazard's departure to Real Madrid last summer.

His arrival will also be important for Chelsea's depth, as both Willian and Pedro are in the final months of their contracts at Stamford Bridge.

With Ziyech joining the Blues' attacking options of Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chelsea have the makings of a very exciting team under manager Frank Lampard.

The agent and brother of Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga has said former employers Chelsea are monitoring his progress "with great interest" amid rumours he could return to Stamford Bridge. 

Boga, 23, first joined Chelsea's academy in 2009 but left the club in 2018 having failed to break into the first team, managing a single senior appearance for the west Londoners.

His form has been good since moving to Sassuolo for £3.5 million around 18 months ago, with 10 goals and five assists in 50 appearances. Representative Daniel Boga told GianlucaDiMarzio.com his brother remains on Chelsea's radar

"In December I met with [Chelsea director] Marina Granovskaia. She's following his season with great interest. There are no concrete offers, but there's strong interest. Barcelona asked me for information. I spoke to others but many clubs want him. Napoli? Certainly, but many called from France and England. I'm very proud of this growth. For many it's a surprise, but certainly not for me. His future is at a top club."

Goal's Nizaar Kinsella reported the value of Boga's alleged buyback clause, which could allow Chelsea to re-sign the player for less than his market value:

Chelsea's Jeremie Boga buyback clause is thought to be around £12.5m. https://t.co/XBDj1YYL8P

— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 12, 2020

Boga has scored seven goals and recorded four assists in 22 Serie A appearances for Sassuolo this season, more than doubling his previous career-best for goals in a single season (three).

His form has spiked in recent weeks with a run of three goals and two assists in his last four league appearances, including a sensational long-distance equaliser when Sassuolo beat Torino 2-1 in January:

He more recently scored and assisted in a tense 2-1 victory over Serie A strugglers SPAL on Sunday when he decided the match with an injury-time header:

The winger was farmed out to Rennes, Granada and Birmingham City on successive season-long loans between 2015 and 2018, racking up a combined 92 appearances for the three clubs.

Boga has flourished in a Sassuolo side engineered to fit his attributes. His brother added that they were "convinced immediately" after Edo Crnjar—agent of Sassuolo manager Roberto De Zerbi—sold them the project they envisioned at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore.

Chelsea already have a number of wingers in the squad, including academy graduate Callum Hudson-Odoi, and there's no guarantee Boga would be willing to settle for a deputy role after thriving in Italy.

The Blues may not pass up their opportunity to re-sign a blooming talent for a modest price, though it appears Boga could have other elite options in front of him come the end of this season.

Chelsea reportedly have a verbal agreement in place to sign Ajax midfielder Hakim Ziyech this summer for €45 million (£37.8 million).

The Blues were suspended from registering new players during the last summer transfer window but have taken the initiative to boost their ranks in 2020, per De Telegraaf (h/t Andy Ha and Tashan Deniran-Alleyne of Football.London):

BREAKING: Chelsea have an 'oral agreement' for €45m transfer of Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech this summer, report Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf pic.twitter.com/an43HWyvk4

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 12, 2020

Chelsea faced Ajax twice during the UEFA Champions League group stage, including a 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge that saw Ziyech notch two assists, and it appears manager Frank Lampard was convinced of the 26-year-old Morocco international's talents (UK viewers only):

Ziyech was among the Ajax players linked with a summer exit after helping the club reach the Champions League semi-finals last season, but he extended his contract until 2022 in August.

Matt Law of the Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Chelsea had failed to recruit the playmaker during the January transfer window, with Ajax adamant about keeping him for the remainder of the season.

Football.London included quotes Ajax director Marc Overmars gave to De Telegraaf in May acknowledging Ziyech would leave when the right deal presented itself: "Hakim leaves when a good club presents itself. That happens, I think, because he is much more in the spotlight because of his great game in the Champions League than last year. Very large clubs are hanging around him. By the way, we promised Hakim a nice transfer on his arrival."

Ziyech has had 29 goal involvements in as many appearances across all competitions for his club this season, including two goals and five assists in six European outings.

Squawka illustrated how he's stood out among the competition in the Eredivisie across the past two seasons:

Hakim Ziyech in the Eredivisie and Champions League since 2017/18:

⬢ 98 games
⬢ 47 assists
⬢ 36 goals#SquawkaScout x @FootballIndex pic.twitter.com/AvvHmyx8bc

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 12, 2020

Chelsea look likely to bid farewell to a number of senior players this summer. Willian (31), Pedro (32) and Olivier Giroud (33) each have contracts that are due to expire in June, while midfielder Marco van Ginkel and reserve goalkeeper Willy Caballero will also be free agents.

Forwards Christian Pulisic, 21, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, 19, have already rejuvenated the squad in that area, though Ziyech is closer to his prime.

Ajax bought the technician from FC Twente in 2016 for a reported €11 million, per ESPN. He was a pivotal player as they won a domestic league and cup double last season and took Ajax's Player of the Year award in each of his past two seasons.

You did not need a body language expert to decipher that Frank Lampard was not happy with Chelsea's transfer window. As the hours ticked down and the likelihood of a signing disappeared, he became more agitated.

In his last press conference before the deadline, he seemed anxious and frustrated. As he spoke of the signings being made at other top clubs, he labelled his side as "underdogs" to make the top four.

Chelsea failed to make a single addition in the January transfer window, but it was not for a lack of trying.

The most publicised pursuit in those final hours was of Napoli forward Dries Martins, but other serious forward options were explored as the Blues put their transfer ban behind them and began thinking about the next phase of Frank Lampard's reign.

Jadon Sancho and Timo Werner were big-name targets—more on that later—but other short-term options never got off the ground. 

For example, Salomon Rondon of Chinese club Dalian Yifang was offered to them in the final two days of the window, but Lampard was adamant he did not want another face just for the sake of it. He has certain standards he is trying to uphold and did not want an Odion Ighalo-type signing just to make up numbers.

As the summer recruitment process begins to now step up, B/R has been told by sources that character and personality are two key attributes that Lampard and his backroom team are prioritising when it comes to strengthening.

So much has gone into integrating academy products within the setup that they can't risk players like Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount or Callum Hudson-Odoi becoming disillusioned by the impact of new additions.

Lampard does not have full control of signings, but he has had a major say on potential deals like those for Sancho or Wilfried Zaha. He knows that one wrong move on a big-money signing could lead to his removal from the manager's seat.

Chelsea want to keep the youngsters motivated and grounded yet inspired for next season, so we have looked into how we should expect each area of the pitch to be affected.

                   

Goalkeeper

The future of Kepa Arrizabalaga is under consideration and has been since the end of last year, according to B/R sources. 

Lampard has serious concerns about the position and fears the rest of the team do not feel safe with Arrizabalaga between the sticks.

Of course, this is not his area of expertise, having spent his entire playing career in midfield, but it is understood he reached out to his goalkeeping experts for full analysis on his stopper's game. Lampard has also instructed recruitment staff to begin the process of drawing up potential signings for next season.

Burnley keeper Nick Pope is emerging as one of the top names on their list of targets if Kepa is to be replaced. There is some concern over how much they would be able to sell their goalkeeper for, though—it is going to prove almost impossible to recapture the £71.6 million they paid Athletic Bilbao in 2018.

              

Defence

There are two issues to deal with here for Lampard, who wants a new first-choice left-back and, ideally, a new top-level central defender.

Ben Chilwell is the priority target at full-back, though a shortlist is being drawn up because the Leicester man is sought-after by a host of other clubs.

They also admire Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli as a leading option if he becomes available. 

One problem that will become obvious in this article is the price of all these deals—it's impossible to sign them all and remain within financial fair play rules.

So when we get towards the end of the campaign, the priorities will be lined up and Lampard will also have some big decisions on player sales to balance the books.

                

Midfield

A lot depends on what happens with N'Golo Kante, who could be the player to attract the biggest offer in the summer. Chelsea know there is interest from Real Madrid, but will they follow through with it?

There is a strong belief in Spain that both Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe are going to be targeted first, so Kante could be waiting on those situations to pan out.

It's difficult at this stage to assess exactly how Lampard will look to strengthen in the middle of the park—sources say there are many different scenarios and styles of player being examined—but Sergej Milinkovic-Savic of Lazio is one name that constantly crops up.

                

Attack

There is so much being weighed up in this area, and the push for signings began weeks ago when Sancho and Werner were both pursued, according to sources close to the club.

The Borussia Dortmund man will continue to be chased, but Lampard is keen for time to make sure it's the right deal for him and the team.

It's a tricky one—Sancho is going to cost more than £100 million, and Manchester United and Manchester City are also watching the situation. The best way to get this deal in place is to make an agreement early.

Contacts close to Sancho have always stated that it would be ideal to decide his next club before UEFA Euro 2020 begins in June, but B/R sources in Germany are indicating that Dortmund might hold out longer.

They feel the club will wait to see how he plays at the tournament and hike his price up accordingly if his play generates further interest.

Chelsea's hierarchy is not concerned about the money he will cost—the Blues still have the Eden Hazard cash from Real Madrid to spend—but it is aware that Lampard wants to be sure about him.

The club have been put off Crystal Palace's Zaha because of doubts over how he would react to not being a guaranteed starter and whether he could perform consistently at the very top level.

Similar background checks are being made on Sancho, with the quality of his play already assured. Chelsea will also need to convince him of their selling points and ambition, but there is a feeling he is open to the idea of joining.

In terms of a striker, Lyon's Moussa Dembele remains a key option. The club did briefly consider Gabriel Barbosa—aka Gabigol—of Inter Milan before he completed a switch to Brazilian side Flamengo.

Character, confidence and creativity are going to be key to Chelsea as they move forward, and Lampard is determined not to get this wrong as he shapes the side for an ambitious 2020/21 campaign.

Mateo Kovacic has praised Frank Lampard's coaching at Chelsea, with the midfielder describing former manager Maurizio Sarri's methods as "monotonous."

Sarri initially brought Kovacic to Stamford Bridge on a one-year loan from Real Madrid at the start of last season, but the Croatia international has said he prefers training under the Blues legend, who arrived from Derby County last summer.

The 25-year-old told FourFourTwo he thinks Lampard is an inspirational leader:

"When the club announced him as their new coach, I wasn't sure what to expect. I came to Chelsea under Sarri, but I must say that Lampard is an exceptional manager.

"He has kept the character he had as a player in his personality as a coach, which has inspired all of us. He commits himself with everything he's got.

"Training is always challenging and different from last season – that's probably the main difference between Lampard and Sarri, who made the concept of training quite monotonous.

"There were a lot of similar training sessions with a focus on tactical preparation. I believe Frank has a bright future ahead of him, and if he gets enough time he can take Chelsea to many more successes."

Sarri arrived at the Bridge after a lauded three-year spell at Napoli where he continued to develop his "Sarri-ball" style of play, originally conceived during his tenure at Empoli. 

The Italian won the UEFA Europa League during a sole campaign at Chelsea, but supporters struggled with his matchday tactics. Sarri's reputation remained unsullied, and he returned to his homeland in June as the new boss of Serie A champions Juventus.

Lampard's team initially appeared to be packed with youthful exuberance, but a lack of depth and quality have left Chelsea scrapping for results.

The Blues suffered only one defeat in 11 league games after their opening-day 4-0 loss at Manchester United, and it seemed Chelsea might develop as outside title challengers. However, Lampard's side hold fourth after winning just four of their past 13 games.

Kovacic added he prefers Lampard's in-game tactics over Sarri's:

"I have to admit that I'm really enjoying it so far. I play with the ball a lot more and have greater freedom of movement – that's why I think I've put in some great performances this season.

"Last year I was tied to a specific area, which became a bit predictable for our opponents and therefore made it harder for me.

"Sarri didn't want long balls from defence when we were under pressure, which led us into some tough situations.

"Lampard, on the other hand, gives us more freedom to assess situations. It's proved to be a good tactic, as it gives us unpredictability. We've scored lots of different goals this season."

The fundamentals of Lampard's system are more in tune with Premier League football than Sarri's were, and Chelsea were not an exciting team to watch during Italian's reign.

The Blues failed to strengthen their squad during January after the Court of Arbitration reduced FIFA's transfer ban, and the lack of additions could hurt the club's chances of a top-four finish.

Kovacic and Christian Pulisic were Chelsea's last major arrivals, and the Blues have not replaced the mercurial talents of Eden Hazard, who left for Madrid last summer.

Chelsea are a work in progress. If Lampard can qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, the club's immediate objective will have been accomplished.

The agent of Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has opened the door to a summer exit, with a reunion with Maurizio Sarri at Juventus a possibility.  

Joao Santos spoke to TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Football Italia) and said the upcoming Euro 2020 tournament will be a good opportunity for his client to showcase his skills:

"His objective is Euro 2020 with Italy, as there are many expectations around Roberto Mancini's side. The Euros also represent a good shop window on a personal level, as he is doing very well with Chelsea and I am certain that he'll receive some important proposals this summer, because there aren't many top level players in his role around."

When asked if a switch to Juventus could be possible, he said: "Why not? I am sure that some important offers will arrive and obviously we’ll evaluate them along with Chelsea."

The Italy international has been a regular starter for the Blues in midfield this season, netting four goals and adding two assists in 23 Premier League outings.

His most recent goal came in the 2-2 draw against rivals Arsenal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEv_orXpbSY

He was Sarri's headline signing in the summer of 2018, following the tactician from Napoli to Stamford Bridge. Jorginho was seen as key to his plans after orchestrating things from midfield with the Partenopei.

Sarri lasted just one year in England before returning to Italy to sign with Juventus. Jorginho stayed behind and has been a solid performer under new manager Frank Lampard.

While his defensive abilities have been a target of criticism at times, the stats would suggest he's been quite good in that department:

Some takeaways:

1. Casemiro has been the best defensive midfielder in the world this season. Truly back to his best.

2. Jorginho is very underrated defensively. Not at all the liability some people have you believe.

3. Ndidi is due a big move. What a fantastic player. https://t.co/7ycRJ9rHZX

— EiF (@EiFSoccer) February 4, 2020

His distribution is his main selling point, however, and the Italians will be banking on that at this summer's European Championships. The Azzurri are eager to perform well after missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their first absence from the world's biggest tournament since 1958.

If the 29-year-old performs well, it would not be a surprise if Sarri and Juventus came knocking. The Bianconeri have struggled to find a midfielder who can replicate his distribution, with passing wizard Miralem Pjanic falling short of the expectations this season.

Jorginho knows Sarri's system like the back of his hand, so he could be the perfect midfield signing for the Italian giants this summer.

Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali has shed light on Chelsea's buyback option for winger Jeremie Boga amid rumours the Blues are planning on bringing him back in the summer.

Carnevali spoke to TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Sport Witness' Sean Lunt), touching on the great relationship between the two clubs and saying the clause isn't the only deal the two sides could make:

"Chelsea can redeem him in June.

"We have excellent relationships with them, we met them with them before Christmas also for other operations, because we like it as we did with Barcelona, ​​to have a collaborative relationship.

"They can take him back, but we can also do an operation together, we can take him back, there is total openness."

According to Foot Mercato (h/t Lunt), the clause is set at €15 million (roughly £12.7 million). Sassuolo signed Boga for £2.7 million.

The 23-year-old is one of many Chelsea academy starlets who never got a real chance with the senior team, and after a series of loan moves in France, Germany and England, he ended up with Sassuolo in Italy.

Boga has netted six goals and added two assists in Serie A this season, and he has a knack for coming up big against the league's elite teams. He scored in the 2-2 draw against Juventus in December and bagged a beauty in the 4-2 win over AS Roma on Sunday:

His steady development has reportedly caught the eyes of several clubs, and according to Goal's Nizaar Kinsella, a summer move seems likely:

A lot of clubs want Jeremie Boga in the summer. I expect him to move so Chelsea might want to exercise that recall option keep him around.
Interviewed him earlier in the season: https://t.co/VZl2tV5o2V
He still has a lot of love for #CFC https://t.co/XBDj1YYL8P

— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) February 4, 2020

Boga told Foot Mercato (h/t Get French Football News) in December he had no regrets over his Chelsea career and left the door open for a return.

It would make sense for Chelsea to use their option, regardless of their long-term plans for Boga. The player has hinted he would welcome a return, so there's nothing standing in the way of a smooth transition in the summer.

The Blues could then capitalise on his strong form and flip him for a profit or keep him around and see whether he could be a regular for the club.

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has reportedly stepped up his return from injury by playing in a behind-closed-doors match on Tuesday.

According to Liam Twomey, Simon Johnson and Dominic Fifield of The Athletic, the 24-year-old was on the field for an hour of the friendly at the Blues' Cobham training complex, with Brentford's B-team as the opposition.

It's said Loftus-Cheek felt "no ill effects" after the match. The England international has not been in action since May, when he ruptured his Achilles in a postseason friendly with the New England Revolution on their artificial turf field.

Per Twomey, "there's still no timeframe for Loftus-Cheek's return to first-team action. They'll use the rest of the February break to continue building his fitness with a view to more development squad appearances." 

The injury meant Loftus-Cheek's campaign ended on a sour note, as he was unable to take part in the UEFA Europa League final, in which Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1.

After impressing for England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Loftus-Cheek gradually started to force his way into Maurizio Sarri's team on a more regular basis. The midfielder chipped in with six Premier League goals and four in the Europa League in 2018-19.

Per The Athletic, Loftus-Cheek's recovery has not been straightforward, as he's suffered with a number of setbacks. 

Chelsea fans will be keen to see the 6'3" attacker back in action. Per Scouted Football, he's part of an exciting young squad at Stamford Bridge: 

Five long-term extensions for five academy graduates in eight months at Chelsea:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Callum Hudson-Odoi to 2024
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ruben Loftus-Cheek to 2024
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Mason Mount to 2024
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Fikayo Tomori to 2024
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Reece James to 2025

Toddlers, to teenagers, to first-teamers. pic.twitter.com/VbYlgXtc7p

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) January 16, 2020

Getting into the side will be difficult for Loftus-Cheek, though. This season, new manager Frank Lampard has helped Mason Mount make significant strides in his game, while Willian, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, Pedro and Ross Barkley are all fighting for attacking midfielder spots.

Loftus-Cheek can bring something different to the team. His physicality is often difficult for opposition players to handle in the final third, while his versatility means he can be used up front.

While a return to first-team football doesn't appear imminent for Loftus-Cheek, if Lampard can get him back in the squad late in the season, it'll be a huge boost. The Blues are hanging onto fourth place with 41 points after a loss and two draws, with Spurs four points behind for the league's last UEFA Champions League berth.

 

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has said the club's young defender Reece James gives the team another "weapon" in attack. 

James has become a first-team regular this season and produced one of his best performances of the campaign on Saturday, when Chelsea drew 2-2 with Leicester City in the Premier League.

Speaking about the 20-year-old, Lampard said he's delighted with the balance that James can offer on the right flank, per Tom Doyle of the Evening Standard:

"Reece is a weapon for us in attack with his crossing—we need to get on the end of them more—but he is also very solid defensively.

"When you think of his age, you can get excited about Reece. There's a lot more he can do, obviously, but I'm really pleased with how he's developing at the minute. 

"There's all sides to his game we can work on, although I'm not going to improve his crossing, he's a bit of a natural. But at the same time we can talk about his position, his link-up with the winger who's in front of him and the midfield."

Chelsea were able to earn a creditable draw at the King Power Stadium thanks to two towering headers from centre-back Antonio Rudiger:

James is clearly benefitting from the time he spent at Wigan Athletic on loan in the previous campaign. The England youth international was one of the standout players in the Championship, winning the Latics' Player of the Year prize after excelling in a number of different positions.

Right-back appears to be where he is most comfortable, though, with the youngster showing no issues adapting to top-level football this season. James' form has prompted Lampard into shuffling the defence around at times in the 2019-20 season, with Cezar Azpilicueta occasionally used at left-back.

Football writer Peter Hall singled out James' delivery into dangerous areas for praise in the first period against Leicester:

Reece James' crossing really is something else. By far Chelsea's best outlet. #LEICHE

— Peter Hall (@PeteHall86) February 1, 2020

Chelsea writer Simon Phillips believes the Blues attackers should have made more of the crossing quality of James:

Reece James has 2 Premier League assists, in reality it should be closer to 10. pic.twitter.com/fIaSsLNmnV

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) February 2, 2020

A number of young players have shone under Lampard's guidance so far this season, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori especially impressive. It's taken James a little longer to establish himself in the team, although he appears poised to play a big role for the remainder of the campaign.

If he continues to get minutes on a consistent basis, it's imperative the Chelsea forwards are more in tune with James' deliveries. Provided they are, the full-back will be a regular source of opportunities from the wing.