Chelsea’s season continues to roll from one disaster to another, with Frank Lampard confirming that both Mason Mount and Reece James will miss the remainder of the campaign through injury.
Onto their third manager of the season, the Blues sit 11th in the Premier League ahead of their trip to Brentford, and have been knocked out of every other competition, meaning that neither silverware this season, or European football next campaign, will be headed to Stamford Bridge.
Lampard himself has lost all four of his games in charge, and now faces a major selection dilemma for the remainder of the season.
“Reece is unavailable, probably for the season. Mason’s the same. Reece has a hamstring. Mason’s carrying a pelvic injury… He’s been trying, but will have minor surgery [&] a four-week recovery”, he told the media ahead of their clash with the Bees.
As it stands, club captain Cesar Azpilicueta is the obvious replacement for James, though the veteran Spaniard has not featured since a nasty head injury against Southampton in their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Mount and James join Armando Broja on the sidelines, while Kalidou Koulibaly and Kai Havertz are also unavailable.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all keeping tabs on the situation, with Chelsea set to demand £70m for their academy star, though there is an expectation that this fee will be negotiated down.
Off the pitch, things are looking up for the Blues, with Mauricio Pochettino on the verge of becoming the new man in the dugout, though it is unclear whether he will take over straight away or at the beginning of next season.
