Chelsea ended the transfer window as the envy of most of the clubs in Europe.
The Blues brought in Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz and Edouard Mendy in a summer spending spree worth more than £200million.
It’s an impressive haul and one that has now set Chelsea up well for the 2020/21 Premier League and Champions League campaigns.
After a transfer ban in the summer of 2019, the Blues failed to bring anyone in over the January window, something that didn’t leave Frank Lampard overly pleased.
It was a move accepted by all parties, to try to stamp an authority on the market in an attempt to haul in the ever-growing gap between themselves, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Ziyech was the first one wrapped up in February, a left-footed player who Lampard believed could be key in bringing in a different style of player to the ones they already had.
When COVID-19 hit, there then came an opportunity for Chelsea to spend money that other clubs claimed they were unable to match.
Chelsea and Roman Abramovich were willing to build even more on the squad through money brought in with the sales of Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata.
Werner had been tipped to join Liverpool, but the Reds stalled due to the unwillingness to spend big amid the pandemic.
The Blues board felt the Germany marksman could be a massive addition to Chelsea’s finishing issues, so swooped quickly to make it happen and paid his release clause.
Werner’s ability to play across the front line was a big positive for the Blues as well, giving Lampard the option of playing him up top or on either wing if required.
While Sarr and Thiago Silva were free transfers, the former is definitely one for the future, with the latter being a short-term option to help one of the leakiest defences in the Premier League.
Both came at opportunistic moments, with Sarr nothing signing a new deal with Nice and hoping for a new challenge.
As for Thiago Silva, Lampard made it clear to the Brazilian that he could be a key member of his squad, and the 36-year-old turned down another contract with PSG to make his first foray into the Premier League.
Chilwell was always Lampard’s first choice to come in at left-back. Players such as Sergio Reguilon and Alex Telles were linked, but the Blues boss wanted no one but Chilwell.
The difficulty was set to be price, with Leicester City looking to drive the fee high. However, when the Foxes failed to get Champions League football, the price tag came down slightly and the Blues managed to snap him up for £50million.
However, big story of the window was always going to be Havertz, with the 21-year-old seen as a ‘generational talent’ in Germany.
That talent cost the Blues £72million, but it was a deal that the Chelsea board were keen to make as a real marquee signing.
Abramovich was keen to make a statement. Having taken over the club in 2003, there had been rumours that the Russian was not as attached to the club these days.
There have been links of him selling up, but Chelsea have also confirmed his commitment to the cause, despite having not been at a home game for two seasons.
Havertz was that man and was seen as the biggest transfer the Blues have made since snapping up Hazard in 2012.
The German was desperate to make the move after Real Madrid and Bayern Munich both passed on him, and Chelsea got the move over the line.
Once again, Lampard was a big influence in the move, making calls to the German to convince him that the project was right at Stamford Bridge for him to flourish.
The other problem position was always going to be sorted as well, with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s form taking a massive dip.
This is where Chelsea’s technical and performance adviser Petr Cech came to the front, pushing for the move to Mendy and spotting that his height and handling would give Chelsea something they were missing from Kepa.
The communication behind the scenes has been positive and Marina Granovskaia has worked hard to make the moves happen.
Outgoings were more difficult. Antonio Rudiger and Fikayo Tomori both denied chances to make the move to West Ham, while the former had interest from Spurs, but he was never the north London club’s first choice.
Chelsea were, however, willing to facilitate loan moves for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to Fulham and Ross Barkley to Aston Villa.
With Loftus-Cheek there is more of a feeling that he can come back as a stronger player for the Blues following his long lay-off due to the Achilles’ tendon rupture.
As for Barkley, his move is set to be more about putting the England international in the shop window.
Bayern Munich showed their interest once again in Callum Hudson-Odoi and they made a loan effort with an option to buy.
However, this time around Hudson-Odoi was not pushing for the move. Chelsea batted away the offer and Lampard has told the 19-year-old he can be a key part of his plans for the future.
There is a ‘three year plan’ at Chelsea, and this summer was all about building a squad for Lampard to really close the gap at the top.
Of course, the big money spent has meant there is immense pressure on the Blues boss and there is an expectation now for him to deliver the results to back it up as the season progresses.
Lampard wanted players who could finish at one end and experience at the back. He has got that.
There was never a bid for Declan Rice in the end, despite an interest in the West Ham man.
With the Blues failing to shift the likes of Rudiger, Jorginho, Marcos Alonso and Emerson, the space was not opened up for the Blues to make their move for him.
However, expect more interest in the England defensive midfielder next summer, with Lampard a fan of the 21-year-old.
For Chelsea fans, there is a real excitement over the deals that Chelsea got over the line, and now they are hoping that they can combine on the pitch.
Follow our socials Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google News.
