Hit or miss? Timo Werner’s confidence seems balanced, Ben Chilwell started well, but is now stuttering, while the jury is deciding on Kai Havertz … all six Chelsea signings have been rated as they fell eighth after a £ 230 summer binge millions
- Frank Lampard paid over £ 230 million in transfer fees to add to his Chelsea team
- Chelsea coach bought Havertz, Werner, Chilwell, Ziyech and Mendy
- However, questions have been raised about his contribution so far this year
- Sportmail analyzed how the players have behaved since their arrival
Frank Lampard spent more than £ 230 million last summer to turn his Chelsea team into title contenders, but questions have already been raised with the newboys failing to make an impact this season.
Chelsea signed German players Kai Havertz and Timo Werner for £ 90 million and £ 53 million, and also bought Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech (£ 38 million), English defender Ben Chilwell (£ 50 million) and Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (£ 22 million). Meanwhile, veteran Brazilian defender Thiago Silva came from PSG at no cost.
As a result, fans across the country believed the club was destined for success – leaving Chelsea fans disappointed to see Lampard’s men take eighth place.
Sportsmail assessed how each of Chelsea’s newcomers fared in the 2020-2021 campaign so far.
Blues boss Frank Lampard spent £ 230 million in transfer fees to add to the Chelsea team
Timo Werner
Eight goals in his first 12 games suggested that Werner would be Chelsea’s missing shooter.
Since then, the German has had 11 league games without scoring. His confidence seems lost, he has been eliminated and Lampard believes his team does not have a “goal machine” to fight for the title. There.
Rating: 2/5
Werner scored eight in his first 12 games, but has since gone 11 league games without a goal
Kai Havertz
With £ 89 million, the German was the most expensive signing of Chelsea’s summer binge. The 21-year-old had a slow start and, as his performance started to improve, he was hit hard by Covid.
Lampard asked for patience. Even after returning, Havertz has been fighting for form and minutes.
Rating: 2/5
Havertz had a slow start to life at Chelsea and was interrupted by positive tests for Covid
Ben Chilwell
The injury meant that the left-back had to wait until October for his league debut. Chilwell started with a goal and an assist, seeming to fit perfectly into a position that gave Lampard a headache last season.
But his performances and attack momentum faltered with Chelsea’s machine failure recently. He is no longer a favorite for England either.
Frogting: 3/5
Ben Chilwell stuttered a little, although it fit perfectly at the beginning of the season
Hakim Ziyech
Another expensive addition that suffered a false start due to an injury. Then, against Sheffield United in November, Ziyech announced himself with a masterclass that had two assists and a great genius.
The injury happened again and Ziyech started on the bench against Leicester, having not scored a goal or an assist since winning over Chris Wilder’s team.
Rating: 3/5
Hakim Ziyech was another expensive addition that suffered a false start because of an injury
Edouard Mendy
Many goalkeepers need time to rebalance themselves. But after months of chaos with Kepa, Mendy immediately seemed to offer a foundation on which to build. And after six clean sheets in his first seven games, he looked like a £ 22m blow.
The strange error has happened since then, but he still added solidity and calm to Chelsea’s defense.
Rating: 4/5
Goalkeeper Mendy is one step away from Kepa – making six games without conceding a goal in the first seven games
Thiago Silva
Perhaps it was written that after spending £ 220 million, the most astute subscription would undoubtedly arrive for free. The 36-year-old was hired to add experience and know-how to the defense.
He is now Lampard’s first-choice defender and substitute captain. But even the Brazilian seemed vulnerable in the last few weeks, as the staff changed around him.
Rating: 4/5
Silva was hired to add defense experience and is now the starting defender