Frank Lampard’s Chelsea has been handed a big plus point as star English winger Callum Hudson Odoi has returned to first-team training following his injury that he suffered back in April. The 41-year-old explained that the two players that could leave the club before the European transfer window closes are Davide Zappacosta (who eventually joined Roma on loan) and Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Chelsea has not had the best of starts to life in the new season under new boss Frank Lampard. The West London club received a harsh reality check when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United hammered Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season.
Lampard had a chance to win his first title in his managerial career as Chelsea faced Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night. And even though it was a better performance than the Manchester United game, Chelsea, unfortunately, lost out on penalties. This weekend, Lampard played his first Chelsea game at Stamford Bridge and drew 1-1 with Leicester City.
The pressure may not be mounting up on the former England midfielder but he certainly would want to get that first win out of his way. Chelsea will not be able to sign any players in the January transfer window as well as they are suffering a transfer ban but Lampard is still pondering whether he wants to keep a few players or not.
Michy Batshuayi has fallen further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge behind Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham but Lampard has explained that he Belgian will play a role in the near future despite being linked with a move from the club, “The future is Michy is here as one of our strikers. We have three strikers this year and there will be opportunities for him. With Michy it is important that he trains at a top, top-level every day gets himself absolutely fit to play the way I want my strikers to play, which will be a constant movement – on and off the ball – and obviously to try and score goals. He is very much our player and competing with Tammy and Ollie for that space.”
However, when asked about the futures of Zappacosta and Bakayoko, the Chelsea boss stated that there is an air of uncertainty considering the future of the two players, “That is not clear yet. Zappacosta is our player and Reece is probably out for three more weeks,” Lampard said. “So that is a decision that will be made as we go on. I have been really impressed with Zappa’s attitude, quality and how he’s trained. We have to make sure we are happy with the squad by the time the European window shuts. That will be a decision for us and of course Zappa because I want players happy. The professionalism he has shown since he has been here has been great and that can be an ongoing conversation. It is similar to both players (Zappacosta and Bakayoko). They obviously have not started the season for us. Both of them have shown really good application and not been a problem. The decision will be what’s best for the club and for them individually as well.”
