Chelsea overcrowded 32-man roster is starting to seem threadbare in some areas, thanks to a slew of injuries that rivals the full XI that was out over the winter. Frank Lampard now has eight players who have either been ruled out for the season or are almost certain not to return.
It is a long list of injuries that affect the entire field but especially the backline. Marc Cucurella, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell were already doubts to return before the season finale against Newcastle, giving Trevoh Chalobah a chance to return,Lampard has even less room to maneuver.
Although there was no meaningful reward to be gained from the previous two matches, Lewis Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka were prevented from embarking on international service with England Under-20s to cover for their senior counterparts.
Read Also:Spanish Police Arrest Four Suspects In Conjunction With Vinicius Jr Racist Chants
For new manager Mauricio Pochettino, it is a major question that must be answered. How can he put an end to his sad string of injuries? So far this season, ten players have missed 10 or more games, and four have missed 20 or more; this is not a coincidence.
Todd Boehly and company made significant cuts to Chelsea physios early in their ownership, but have since been forced to pay the price.
According to German outlet Bild, his asking price will still be more than €100 million (£86.9 million). For a team with other areas in need of investment, it would be a significant outlay for a player who will have competition not only from Colwill and Badiashile.
Unless there are significant outgoings at the back, with just Cesar Azpilicueta set to leave and Chalobah potentially a possibility, there does not appear to be room for Gvardiol.
COMMENTS