Frank Lampard prefers to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, a setup that allows your wide men to thrive.
He is blessed with many quality players who offer versatility and can play in a number of positions. But even with the big squad he has at his disposal, some fans are beginning to ask the question, should Chelsea be looking to sign a new winger in January?
Whilst you’re here please take a moment to sign up for free email alerts over at my new project ‘Si Phillips Talks Chelsea’ – get news, exclusives, interviews, weekly insider podcasts, plus loads more to your inbox before anyone else!
This if off the back of an injury-prone Christian Pulisic seemingly becoming even more injury-prone this season, and Chelsea’s two new German internationals having to play out of position.
Yes Havertz and Werner can do a job out wide, but there is no doubt that they look much more comfortable in their preferred and natural central positions. I firmly believe we should be playing our players in their best positions regardless.
Other players can do a job out wide for Chelsea, such as Mason Mount and Emerson Palmieri have done on occasions, but the point remains that Lampard only has two natural wingers at his disposal, and they’ve both had their fair share of injuries over the last couple of seasons.
We know the issues with Pulisic, and this gets more concerning by the day, but Callum Hudson-Odoi has also had a few small issues since his serious achilles injury last year.
Bringing in yet another player to compete in attacking areas will cause problems for sure, with Lampard already struggling to give them all game time. But do Chelsea’s needs come ahead of anything else right now?
Playing 4-3-3 as a regular formation, then I would say yes, it would be wise to invest in another winger. But if we are prepared to switch up formation when we lack the wingers, as I wrote about yesterday, then no, we do not need another winger.
Tino Livramento could come in from the academy and play on the wing for Chelsea, as could his namesake Tino Anjorin – I have no doubt that either would do well right now.
But I think if Chelsea are wanting to challenge for honours, then they would be wise to seek another winger if 4-3-3 is the mainstay as it appears to be.
The million dollar question though, is who would want to come in and not be guaranteed regular football?
That is probably for another article, but we could look to a player nearer to the end of his career who would like one last major challenge and would be happy to play for Chelsea in any role.
I don’t see Chelsea going all out on a Jadon Sancho, Samuel Chukwueze, or a Leon Bailey right now after spending all that money on new attackers just this summer, and centre back appears to stay the priority.
Comment your choices on the tweet or on the article and let us know if you believe Chelsea need to sign a new winger?
After reports that Papu Gomez may be on his way out of Atalanta in January, I have no doubt he would be a great addition
Oyarzabal, Buendia or Boga
That’s a yes for me. I had written my opinion on the Kai’s deal on if he really he is the kind of player Chelsea could use or fitting well in the Chelsea team. I wanted Said Benrahma instead and I still do want us to buy him. Said is… Read more »