Where Chelsea FC Should Spend the $200 Million Transfer Budget in January
Chelsea has a $200 million transfer budget to splurge on players come January. Here are the players they target in the transfer window.
Chelsea's transfer ban gets lifted next month, leaving $200 million in wiggle room. Who should they target? | Image: JOSE JORDAN / AFP
- Chelsea can now spend on quality players to strengthen the squad.
- The current attacking force is impressive but could do with backups.
- The EPL club’s defense also needs new signings.
With the transfer ban that FIFA issued against Chelsea last season now overturned, manager Frank Lampard has been presented with an opportunity to bolster the squad that’s largely composed of young and inexperienced players. The club currently has a transfer budget of nearly $200 million that will be available in the January transfer window.
The departments that ought to get priority are defense and attack. While some of the positions require strengthening due to existing weaknesses others only require alternative figures on standby in the event of injuries and other circumstances.
Abraham for Plan A but there Needs to Be Plan B
Tammy Abraham has emerged as one of Chelsea’s standout talents from the club’s youth program. The 22-year old has quickly proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer for the English Premier League (EPL) club. The problem occurs when he’s out of services, like during last weekend’s match against West Ham. During the game, Chelsea’s attacking force was insufficient. While the club already has Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount as options in the attack, the two have repeatedly come up short.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnekLgpUPnI
So who should Chelsea target? Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha certainly fits the bill. Zaha wouldn’t be a threat to Abraham as he can also play on the wings while providing a backup solution as a main striker. A move to Chelsea for Zaha would not as a surprise though as it has been widely speculated.
Other attackers that Chelsea could target include Lyon striker Moussa Dembele and Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho.
Chelsea Looking to Raid Leicester City’s Defense
On defense, Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell would be a good fit for the EPL club. Chelsea has been depending on Marcos Alonso as a left-back since Emerson Palmieri is out with injury. But Alonso comes up short in the face of high-quality opposition. At just 22, Chilwell would fit perfectly as a left-back with Chelsea’s youthful but promising team.
An additional central defender could also come in handy for Chelsea. In this department, the EPL club is reportedly interested in Nathan Ake, who currently plays for Bournemouth.
If he uses the $200 million transfer budget wisely, Lampard’s stay at Chelsea has higher chances of being incredibly successful. And certainly way better than other player-turned-coaches who are currently at their former clubs, such as Freddie Ljungberg and Ole Gunnar Solskjær.