FRANK LAMPARD has been sacked by Chelsea after a horror run of form – with his moves in the transfer market partly to blame.
The Blues chief, 42, was just 18 months into a three-year contract at the club.
Frank Lampard has been sacked by Chelsea after a shocking 2020-21
But Chelsea players were told to stay away from training on Monday morning, with Lampard locked in talks with club chiefs.
The club later confirmed Lampard had been sacked.
Part of the club’s problem this season has been their new signings struggling to adapt to their new home.
And with Lampard now gone – with Thomas Tuchel set to take over – we take a look at all seven of the former boss’ signings, ranked from best to worst…
BEN CHILWELL
Leicester – £50m
Ben Chilwell was a brilliant signing for Chelsea and has arguably been the club’s best player this season
CHELSEA spent £228.7million in the summer transfer window – and only £50m of that was truly well spent.
The England left-back has furthered his reputation at Stamford Bridge with a host of impressive performances.
Solid at the back and dangerous in attack, Chilwell is a monster upgrade on Emerson and Marcos Alonso.
Easily Lampard’s best signing and arguably Chelsea’s best player this season full stop.
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THIAGO SILVA
PSG – Free
Silva has become a mainstay in the Chelsea defence this seasonCredit: Reuters
A FREE signing with years of experience in Europe’s Big Five leagues and a huge upgrade to the Chelsea defence, Silva was another gem of a signing.
After struggling on his debut – the 3-3 draw with West Brom – Silva has become a mainstay in the heart of the Blues defence alongside Kurt Zouma.
At the age of 36, Silva certainly isn’t one for the future.
But Lampard deserves credit for recognising the need for a world-class centre-back immediately.
Imagine their predicament this season without him…
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EDOUARD MENDY
Rennes – £24m
Mendy has cooled off a touch after a red-hot start to life at ChelseaCredit: Getty – Pool
AN upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga? Definitely. A top-four level goalkeeper? The jury’s still out…
A string of fine performances and clean sheets early in his Chelsea career left Blues supporters delirious with joy, with Mendy the saviour following their Kepa nightmare.
But more-recently, the ex-Rennes stopper has looked a little more shaky.
For just £24m, Mendy is certainly a solid signing.
But compared to the likes of Alisson, Ederson and even David De Gea, he’s not the superstar the club arguably need.
A fine signing, not an elite one.
HAKIM ZIYECH
Ajax – £36.7m
Ziyech’s potential is undoubted but he has struggled to settle into life at ChelseaCredit: EPA
ZIYECH is a tough one to judge.
The Moroccan winger has looked lively in fits and spurts, but has managed just one goal and three assists in ten Premier League games.
The ex-Ajax man has struggled with injuries and his versatility will be a huge bonus.
But with Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi already on the books, Ziyech isn’t an immediate starter despite his near £40m price-tag… yet.
There’s still plenty of time for Ziyech to live up to his undoubted potential, but for now he sits middle of the pack, fourth of seven Lampard signings.
MALANG SARR
Nice – Free
Sarr is one for the future for Chelsea and will likely return from loan next season
SIGNED from Nice in the summer and immediately loaned out to Porto, Sarr still manages to sit fifth on the list.
Chelsea need defensive reinforcements and will certainly need to look to the future with Silva coming to the end of his career.
Signing a talented centre-back full of potential is a smart move, with Sarr tipped to partner Zouma in the coming seasons.
A lot will depend on his time at Porto, where he has played 12 times so far this season, including five Champions League games.
KAI HAVERTZ
Bayer Leverkusen – £70m
Havertz has looked lost in the Premier League, a far cry from his Bundesliga self
CHELSEA were willing to throw a whopping £70m at Bayer Leverkusen to sign German wonderkid Havertz in the summer.
However, they’ve been lumbered with a player devoid of confidence and struggling for form.
Havertz has hardly been helped by Lampard, who doesn’t seem to know where he best fits into his team.
The German being struck down by coronavirus earlier in the season didn’t help his cause either.
But with just one goal and two assists in 16 Premier League games – for £70m, remember – Havertz’s spell has been thoroughly underwhelming.
TIMO WERNER
RB Leipzig – £48m
Timo Werner has been abysmal for Chelsea this season after his purple patch at Leipzig last termCredit: PA:Press Association
TO be below Havertz on the list takes some doing, but Werner has somehow managed it…
Expected to be the superstar striker Chelsea so desperately craved, the ex-RB Leipzig star has been appalling since moving to London.
Werner’s return of four goals in 19 Premier League games is bad enough.
But the stats only tell half the story, with Werner without a league goal since November 7 during the win over basement-boys Sheffield United.
The German has missed a hatful of open goals, one-on-ones and even a penalty at the weekend.
Werner looks devoid of confidence and has struggled both as a central striker and left-winger.
For £48m, he’s at real risk of featuring on future ‘worst transfers ever’ lists unless he bucks up his ideas… and quickly.
Frank Lampard comes out fighting with his job on the line to attack reporters criticising Chelsea
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
