Frank Lampard has hinted at a potentially quiet January transfer window for Chelsea in terms of arrivals, although a few more departures could be on the cards.
The Chelsea manager has talked about the plan to trim the squad multiple times, with several players being out of the picture at the moment.
But it has almost been three weeks since the transfer window opened, and the only senior departure so far is Danny Drinkwater’s loan move to Turkish club Kasimpasa. And he is not even in the first-team bubble.
During his press conference on Monday, Lampard’s comments suggest that any January signings are unlikely.
“It’s great for Danny to leave and go to play. [About] Fikayo, we’ll see,” he told reporters (via Chelsea’s official YouTube channel).
“I’m not considering getting players out to bring in [new players] at this point.
“I’m trying to make sure that the balance of the squad we have here is right.
“If there are players that move on and are beneficial for them as well as for us, then that’s a positive.”
Tomori has made just two starts in the League Cup this season, making four appearances in total across all competitions.
Obviously, the last two seasons have been a drastic change for someone who made 46 starts during his loan spell at Derby County in 2018/19.
Lampard said Tomori might have to go on loan to continue his development as a player.
“This year we have five centre-backs so the predicament is difficult for centre-backs who are not playing regularly,” he added.
“That’s why he may go out on loan for his development.
“His development has been a huge rise in the two seasons — that will continue and we will find the best path for that.”