How Chelsea could line up if Lampard had landed Haaland

Karan Tejwani

• Updated: 1 Jan 2023 18:27 GMT
• 3 min read

Erling Haaland is a star at Manchester City having netted 26 goals in 20 appearances for them so far, but things could’ve been much more different for them.

Frank Lampard could’ve signed him at Chelsea when he was manager there and Haaland was still emerging at Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund.

He ended up becoming a star in the Bundesliga before his big move to Manchester City where he has maintained his quality in Pep Guardiola’s side.

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Despite that, how could Chelsea have lined up had they signed Haaland instead?

How would Chelsea line up with Haaland?

In goal, Chelsea would remain with Kepa Arrizzabalaga, and he would’ve competed with Edouard Mendy, who has lost his place due to poor form.

In defence, they will have a back three of Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly, which is arguably their best trio.

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Fofana and Koulibaly signed in the summer and over the course of Haaland’s time, he would have had team-mates like Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.

Reece James and Ben Chilwell will take up the wing-back positions, with both hoping to get back into form after a few months of injury troubles.

There will be plenty of competition in midfield but Jorginho will start, as he often has done under Graham Potter with the likes of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic to support him.

Up top, Erling Haaland will claim his place as the primary number nine and that is where he will be making his biggest impact, hoping to net some goals for the Blues.

With him, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling are there to support him on the wings, while Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are likely there to act as back-up.

Had he joined, Haaland’s time at Chelsea would’ve been a successful one already as the Blues won the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel.