Lampard admits he wants ‘a big say’ in Chelsea’s transfer business and discusses ‘statement signings’ | OneFootball

Frank Lampard has admitted that he wants to have a big say in which players Chelsea bring to the club after seeing their transfer ban lifted last week.

The Blues saw their two-window transfer ban halved by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this month, meaning Chelsea are able to bring in new players in the upcoming January transfer window.

Frank Lampard has already suggested that he wants to bring in a creative player following the summer exit of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, and speaking at his press conference on Friday, the former England midfielder was asked as to who is making decisions about the clubs transfer policy and potential targets.

“We haven’t bought anyone yet,” Lampard joked.

“But to answer that seriously, I have very open conversations with Marina [Granovskaia], and she’s speaking to the owner. I can speak to either of them, but mainly Marina, and then the scouting department and Petr Cech.

“And I sit with my staff daily, for hours, and we talk about how we can improve. And of course at points, you start to think about the longer-term future. So the conversations have been very open to this point, so I’m happy with it. But of course, we haven’t bought anyone.

“Of course when it comes to recruitment I want to have a big say in it and we’re very open.”

Former Chelsea managers Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri previously expressed their frustrations at the clubs transfer strategy, though Lampard does expect to have an influence over potential targets, while also talking up his own excitement as a player when a ‘statement signing’ was brought to the club.

“Yes [I can have an influence], but then if I say, ‘can I have Mbappe, Messi and Ronaldo as my front three’ that might get knocked back, do you know what I mean?

“And I wouldn’t say that, but it’s obviously a balance where I can put forward the recommendations and have an open conversation with the owner, and hope that we move forward in the right direction. I’m very open about that.

“If I start to look at where we can strengthen the squad it’s certainly not going to be any slight on the young players or anything.

“I just think we all here have seen this summer, and what’s happened since the summer, that the idea of going into the academy and giving these boys a chance was a really good one, because they’ve deserved it. And they haven’t been given that so much in the past.

“So I do think maybe we’ve changed their minds (the club) a bit on that one.

“Of course we need to stay competitive, that will never change. But I think people have been very pleased to see that, and I certainly have.

“I remember moments where the club made certain big money signings, like Fernando Torres coming to the club, statement signings; they were always exciting. When you’re a player at a club and you want to be successful and you push and push, you do get excited by players coming in.

“So I always think it’s healthy, and it’s par for the course at a club like Chelsea. You shouldn’t expect it to be any other way. It keeps you on your toes and I think that’s always a good thing.”

The need for squad strengthening was further highlighted on Saturday, Lampard’s side failing to break down an organised Bournemouth side, Dan Gosling snatching a late winner for the Cherries.

The result leaves the Blues looking over their shoulder in the race to finish in the top four, with a highly anticipated local derby against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs up next at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

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