Read how the day unfolded at Stamford Bridge below…
FRANK EXCHANGE
Frank Lampard hit out at Chelsea’s board after the club failed to make a significant signing in the transfer window.
The Blues overturned a transfer ban in time for January — but only brought in 16-year-old Bryan Fiabema.
Lampard fears for a top-four finish and said: “We probably become the underdogs and the outsiders because the teams around us have strengthened. It’s a fact.
“Every time I look at the TV, a player has signed for another club.
“Manchester United have signed a world-class player and Sheffield United are making fantastic signings.
“Tottenham have signed a few — and they’re not far behind us.
“We have now missed two windows — and the fact we missed the last one made this a bit more crucial.”
Chelsea failed to land Dries Mertens from Napoli or Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain to ease the pressure on strike star Tammy Abraham.
GIR STAYING PUT
Chelsea's World Cup-winning striker Olivier Giroud faces a blow to his Euro 2020 hopes – with the prospect of another five months of inaction.
Blues' inability to bring in a replacement for the £18million signing from Arsenal could leave Giroud with a very frustrating few months and could threaten his place in the France squad for this summer's tournament.
Giroud is behind Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi and has even been left out of the matchday 18 on several occasions.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard threw out an olive branch to the striker, though.
He said: ” He has been incredible as a player and a man during this time.”
RUBBED OUT
There will be no rest for Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek this winter break.
The England man is stepping up his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury, Blues boss Frank Lampard told the Evening Standard.
The 23-year-old underwent surgery after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a friendly against New England Revolution in May and previously revealed he had to learn how to walk again.
Loftus-Cheek has been training with the club’s under-16s in an attempt to work his way up to speed by advancing through the age groups.
Chelsea have a 16-day break after facing Leicester today before hosting Manchester United and Lampard said: “Where we are having a bit of time off for the players, he [Loftus-Cheek] won’t, he’ll be working.
“He’ll be with the under-23s to try and get some minutes. He’ll have to get some minutes. He’s had a full week of training with us for the first time and he has come through it.
“It’d great to see him but he looks short, he knows he’s short, you couldn’t not be after he has been out for so long.
“So yes, 23s progression and hopefully after the break we can talk about him more when he is going to come back into the squad.”
THE TRANSFER WINDOW IS SHUT!
But deals can go through if the paperwork has been submitted…
ROUD NOT TO
Arsenal fans rejoicing that Olivier Giroud has not joined rivals Spurs.
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