Champions League qualification key for Chelsea development as Mason Mount shines amid Kepa Arrizabalaga doubts

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Giuseppe Muro26 July 2020

Now Chelsea have secured Champions League football for next season, the Frank Lampard revolution at Stamford Bridge can really begin in earnest this summer.

Many predicted Lampard would struggle in his first season in the Chelsea dugout given the Blues lost Eden Hazard last summer and had their Fifa-imposed transfer ban to contend with.

Securing a top-four finish is a brilliant achievement given the circumstances and fully deserved.

Now, having bought Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea will now press ahead with a move for £70million-rated Kai Havertz and are also targeting defensive reinforcements and a possibly new goalkeeper.

Their moves in the transfer market did not depend on the Champions League, but an added income of over £50m will help.

Beyond money, it brings prestige and will be crucial to the development of Lampard’s young side as they bid to close the gap to Liverpool and Manchester City.

Mason Mount has arguably been Chelsea’s best player this season.

The 21-year-old has made over 50 appearances in what has been a brilliant debut campaign in the Premier League and against Wolves he again showed why Lampard believes he can be a mainstay in Chelsea’s midfield for years to come.

Mason Mount shined for Chelsea as they sealed Champions League qualification with a final day win over Wolves
Getty Images

His free-kick to break the deadlock against Wolves was world-class and he then set up Olivier Giroud to double the lead as Chelsea stunned Wolves with two quick-fire goals at the end of the first half.

Mount is developing into a fine player under Lampard. Ashley Cole has said that Mount deserves more England chances and if he keeps playing like this then it will surely not be long before he is a regular under Gareth Southgate.

Dropping Kepa Arrizabalaga for a game of this magnitude speaks volumes about the faith Lampard has in the Spaniard.

But goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped by Frank Lampard amid growing doubts over the goalkeeper's Stamford Bridge future
Pool via REUTERS

The manager has been considering whether to sign a new goalkeeper this summer and his decision to leave Kepa on the bench leaves big question marks around his future at Stamford Bridge.

The world’s most expensive goalkeeper, for whom Chelsea paid £71.6million in 2018, has been under pressure and the fact Lampard went with Willy Caballero for such an important game suggests he does not see Kepa as his long-term no1.

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