Chelsea’s 20y/o “superstar” could be their next Lampard

Frank Lampard will forever be in Chelsea’s history books after his time at Stamford Bridge as a player, breaking numerous records during his playing career.

The 46-year-old made a total of 648 appearances for the Blues, registering a total of 211 goals – the highest goalscoring tally of any player in the club’s history – a staggering feat for a midfielder.

After spending the majority of his career in West London, Lampard hung up his boots and went into management, taking charge of the Blues on two separate occasions.

However, it’s safe to say his time as manager wasn’t as successful as a player, achieving a 52% win rate during his permanent spell as boss before making way for Thomas Tuchel, who would help the side win the Champions League that campaign.

Fast-forward to nine years after his retirement as a player, the Blues have often struggled to find a midfielder who can replicate his goal-scoring ability, with the responsibility now falling to one member of Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad.

Enzo Fernández’s time at Chelsea

Back in January 2023, Chelsea raised eyebrows by forking out a then-English record fee of £106.8m for the services of midfielder Enzo Fernández from Benfica.

The 24-year-old has often partnered Moises Caicedo at the heart of the side, usually featuring in a box-to-box role whilst the Ecuadorian sits deep and regains possession of the side.

To date, Enzo has featured 93 times for the Blues, scoring on 11 occasions, offering the highest goalscoring threat from a deep-lying position within the current side.

In 2025 alone, he’s scored more goals than assists registered, showcasing the talent he possesses in front of goal, potentially emulating Lampard in that department – but remains nowhere the goal-scoring level of Lampard.

However, despite being a regular starter in Maresca’s first-team over the last couple of months, he may struggle to maintain his starting role when one player returns from his loan spell away from the Bridge.

The Chelsea loanee who could be the next Frank Lampard

Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos could prove to be a key member of the first-team squad over the next few years – that’s if his current loan spell is anything to go by.

He joined in an £18m deal back in January 2023 from Brazilian outfit Vasco de Gama, however, returning to his boyhood side until the summer and linking up the Blues at the end of the season.

He would subsequently join fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2023/24 season, but after just two appearances in the first half of the campaign, he would be recalled and loaned out to sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Such a temporary stint would allow him to gain valuable game time, rejoining the French outfit for the current season, thriving in the attacking third despite his midfield role.

Santos, who’s been labelled a “superstar” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has registered eight goals in 23 appearances across all competitions – the second-highest tally of any player in the squad, highlighting his impressive form in front of goal.

Alongside his goal tally, his underlying stats have been just as impressive, making him a perfect box-to-box option for Maresca at the heart of the side, potentially putting Fernandez’s place at risk.

The 20-year-old has won an average of 2.5 tackles per 90, along with 7.5 duels won, showcasing he has the defensive quality to star at both ends of the pitch, certainly handing the Italian boss a selection headache in the near future.

After such a run of form away from West London, it would be hard for the club to ignore including such a talent in the first team squad next season, providing added quality to the already stacked department.

However, a balance must be struck so he can still receive key first-team minutes to continue from the excellent strides he’s made in Ligue 1 – with Santos having a hugely exciting future, potentially filling the void after Lampard’s retirement.