Chelsea news: Frank Lampard urged to make two transfers to challenge Liverpool | Football | Sport
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Former Arsenal star Paul Merson thinks Chelsea are only two transfers away from becoming Premier League title challengers. Frank Lampard has secured two excellent signings in Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner ahead of the summer window.
The Blues are also keeping close tabs on Bayer Leverkusen’s versatile midfielder Kai Havertz while they consider launching an approach.
However, Merson believes Lampard should look to shore up his defence if he wants to launch a serious challenge to Liverpool’s crown.
“I think Chelsea need a left-back, and they might need another centre-half, and then they’ll be a major force next season,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“I don’t think they’ll win the Premier League next season, but the gap won’t be as big.
“They mean business. The owner has been brilliant; he’s weighed it up and gone – bang! Here’s your money.
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“He’s looked at the situation and thought, ‘Tottenham are struggling, Pep Guardiola won’t be at City forever,’ and he’s trying to get into the top four, close the gap and challenge when they have their chance.
“With Liverpool putting up records like they have with their players being as good as they are, it’s only a matter of time before the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid come calling.
“In three or four years, I’d be quite shocked if Chelsea don’t win the Premier League.”
Lampard has highlighted Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell as a potential success to Marcos Alonso.
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Taking the 23-year-old England international to Stamford Bridge will be another huge statement of intent.
Chelsea beat last year’s Premier League champions Manchester City 2-1 last week and Merson thinks that result sent a message to all of their rivals.
“To go and beat Man City was massive,” he added. “It was massive because everyone is looking to close the gap.
“Chelsea have got nice fixtures between now and the end of the season, so I don’t think there’s any way they’re not finishing in the top four.”
Lampard’s first season at the helm will be deemed a success once Champions League football is secured for another year.
There have been the odd slip-up throughout the campaign but Merson thinks that is all part of the learning curve.
“Those odd results against lesser teams were a show of inexperience from Frank at the time,” Merson said.
“Coming into a big club like Chelsea, he wanted to entertain in those games he lost. He was thinking, ‘I better entertain the man behind the goal’.
“When you’re an experienced manager you know you can’t do that against teams who defend deep all the time. But now, he’s getting better, he’s making big decisions now during games.”
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