CHELSEA pushed their way into the Premier League top six after beating Brighton and now look ahead to facing Lille in the Champions League.
But they being kept busy off the pitch as they face losing Brazilian winger Willian to Barcelona for nothing.
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CHELSEA returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Brighton to move into the top six.
And now they can look ahead to a short trip to Lille in the Champions League.
But Frank Lampard may also have to start looking for a new winger, should Willian leave in the near future.
Barcelona were targeting the Brazilian speedster in the off-season – yet were put off by the Blues’ £55m price tag.
However, the Catalan giants will be able to sign Willian for nothing next summer as his contract winds down.
Although, as one for the future, Lampard does have his eye on Wigan Athletic’s 17-year-old forward Joe Gelhardt.
The youngster has yet to turn out for the Latics senior team, but impressed with 12 goals in 15 matches for the England under-17s before earning a promotion.
But the Blues face heavy competition from Merseyside, having already showed his skills against Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup with the Reds’ Academy director Alex Inglethorpe watching on.
Everton are also interested, and would be looking to poach the youngster in January while Chelsea are still serving their transfer ban.
And what would be music to the ears of Blues’ fans – the Stamford Bridge will be dominating the Premier League in three years.
That is the view of former Arsenal and England ace Paul Merson, despite Manchester City and Liverpool already making it a two-horse for the title this season.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, the 51-year-old said that if they continue producing and progressing with young talents like Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, the Blues can end up on top in the near future.
He said: “I go through the Chelsea squad and in two or three years this team will be dominating English football, dominating English football.
“If they all stay together, they've got so much talent in that club at the moment and they're all youngsters.”
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