Chelsea are having a pretty good season to date by all standards. With 16 games played so far this season, prior to Saturday’s match when the Blues entertain Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, they sit fourth in the Premiership five points ahead of 5th placed Manchester United.
Bearing on mind that the club has been restrained by a two-window transfer ban which came into force in February, they have done well to amass their 29 points with the existing squad. But it must come of something of a relief to have had the ban curtailed following a recent arbitration meeting with the FA.
With the ban reduced to one window, which has already passed, Chelsea will be able to pull in some new talent in the January window, something which must come as a huge relief to manager, Frank Lampard.
There are two stand-out performers in the Chelsea squad so far – Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, something ex-player, Shaun-Wright-Philips, agrees with according to a recent interview. Twenty-two-year-old Abraham has eleven goals to his credit plus three assists. He is second highest top goal scorer in the Premiership to date behind Jamie Vardy who has an incredible 16 goals.
Abraham has impressed of late, and it is suggested that he could be pressuring Harry Kane (8th highest goal scorer in the Premiership with eight goals) for his place in the England team. However, Kane’s all-around superior play skills give him the edge. Abraham is, however, an excellent option to have on stand-by, as of course is Jamie Vardy.
Mason Mount is shaping up to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. The 20-year-old has five goals to his name this season plus two assists. A product of the Chelsea Academy, Mount has already won two senior England 2 caps and found the back on the net in the Euro 2020 away game against Kosovo. He is showing excellent promise.
The best that Chelsea can hope for in terms of a placing in the final Premiership table of the season is to finish in the top four. In reality, Liverpool are out of reach, 17 points ahead.
Leicester City in second place are nine points ahead, which is within grasp if the Blues get the right results and the Foxes slip up a few times. Manchester City are only three points ahead of Chelsea, so they are eminently catch-able if results go their way.
However, before we get ahead of ourselves, the Pensioners have got a tough December to get through. They are away to Tottenham Hotspur on the 22nd of December and also have to face Arsenal at the Emirates on the 29th of December. They need to win both to remain in contention for a top-four finish.
As far as cup competitions go Chelsea are through to the last 16 of the Champions League. In terms of domestic competitions, the Blues are out of the Carabao Cup having been beaten by Manchester United. However, they are still in the FA Cup and play Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Sunday the 5th of January.
The fact that Chelsea will be able to take part in the January transfer window will come as a welcome relief for Frank Lampard. Rumour has it that the Blues are showing an interest in Crystal Palace’s Wilfred Zaha. The 27-year-old Ivory Coast winger is hankering to play at the highest level, and his skills would certainly give Lampard another attacking option.
Speculation also has it that Chelsea are also keeping tabs on Lyon’s Moussa Dembele and Leipzig’s Timo Werner. These additions would further strengthen the Chelsea squad and make the likelihood of winning some silverware this season a little more realistic.
