Chelsea have invested heavily in Frank Lampard’s squad this summer, spending more than £200million on the likes of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Edouard Mendy.
Yet the Blues are not done quite yet. The European transfer window closes tomorrow at 11pm, and before then one more signing may arrive at Stamford Bridge.
It’s no secret Lampard wants a new midfielder added to his squad. And that may become a necessity if Jorginho departs – the Italian has been linked with Arsenal – and Ruben Loftus-Cheek leaves on loan as expected.
So who could Chelsea turn to in the final hours of the transfer window? Well, three names certainly stand out.
Declan Rice
The West Ham United star needs little introduction to Chelsea fans. Rice was a member of the Blues’ academy and played alongside good friend Mason Mount until he was released at 14 years old.
That setback proved a blessing in disguise. Rice went on to join West Ham and four years later he was a regular in their senior side.
Now 21 years old, Rice has made more than 100 Premier League appearances for the Irons and is also a staple of Gareth Southgate’s England squad. So it’s little surprise Lampard is keen.
Rice’s versatility is a key selling point. He has made the majority of his appearances for West Ham in midfield, a position in which he screens the back four while also being a key competent in building possession.
Yet he is also able to play at centre-back and for a side like Chelsea, who often control the ball and face low defensive blocks, it is a position he could occupy more regularly.
The problem facing the Blues in their pursuit of Rice is the cost. West Ham have reportedly placed a £90m price tag on his head and that may prove far too steep.
According to 90mins , Lampard is keen for the deal to be done no matter the price. But with members of the club’s hierarchy not totally convinced by Rice, it may mean Chelsea look elsewhere on deadline day.
Which brings us to…
Thomas Partey
The Atletico Madrid midfielder’s future has been the subject of speculation for the entirety of the summer. So expect Partey’s name to remain among the headlines on deadline day.
The Ghana international has been courted by Arsenal since the transfer window opened, but the Gunners have yet to pull the trigger and pay his £45m release clause. That may open the door for Chelsea.
Partey would offer a cheaper alternative to Rice for the Blues and bring with him a wealth of top-level experience. He has made more than 180 appearances for Atletico and has become a key part of Diego Simeone’s midfield since the departure of Gabi in 2018.
To thrive under Simeone, every player must be defensively robust. Partey is no different in this respect. Yet it would be unfair to label the 27-year-old as a midfield destroyer. There is more nuance to his game than that.
He is a progressive passer, often moving Atleti up the pitch with an intelligent ball into the final third. He can also manoeuvre beyond challenges with a combination of subtlety and strength, something which can be vital against high-pressing opponents.
Partey wouldn’t be as long-term an investment as Rice. He could, though, be a smarter addition for Chelsea this summer given the spending that has already taken place at Stamford Bridge.
Nico Melamed
A very different midfielder to the other names on this list, a move for the 19-year-old on deadline day would likely be one with an eye on the future rather than the present.
Chelsea were linked with Melamed earlier this summer after he caught the eye for Espanyol’s second string. They were not alone: Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also supposedly keen on the young Spaniard.
Melamed was promoted to Espanyol’s first-team squad this summer and has been an unused substitute during their two opening Segunda games. His versatility – he can play as a central midfielder, No.10 or out wide – should ensure regular game time this term.
That is if he doesn’t move elsewhere. Melamed has a contract that runs until 2023 but it contains a buyout clause of £7.2m.
For a club of Chelsea’s stature – and of the others linked – that is an easy fee to pay. If he were to move to the Blues, though, it’s unlikely he would be instantly incorporated into Lampard’s first-team squad.
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