Paul Merson believes that if Chelsea get the right transfer deals done in January then they could secure Champions League football as a result.
The Blues are able to splash the cash next month after their transfer ban was lifted after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled to halve the ban last week.
It will be the first time Frank Lampard will have the chance to splash Roman Abramovich's cash after having his hands tied during the summer transfer window.
Already Lampard’s side have been linked with a host of names from around the continent, including Jadon Sancho, and Merson believes the Blues’ young guns could do with some help for the second half of the campaign.
"If Chelsea do the right deals in January they can book their ticket to a top four finish now their transfer ban has been lifted," Merson wrote in his Daily Star column.
"They are right in the hunt already but they have teams breathing down their neck now and the youngsters could do with some help.
"They need a centre forward to take the load off Tammy Abraham for a start. He’s done brilliantly but you can’t rely on him alone for the rest of the season.
"I think Olivier Giroud will go. He’s hardly played and isn’t getting any younger. So they will need to replace him.
"They might need a more experienced centre half if Antonio Rudiger isn’t going to be 100 per cent for the rest of the season – and they need a left back as well.
"But they don’t need major surgery. I don’t think they will spend big. Frank Lampard was a hard-working player.
"He will only want to buy that type of player.
"He won’t want to be paying £80m for a superstar who just does enough in training and doesn’t pull his weight in matches.
"Chelsea’s kids have done well but there are times when they will need to be taken out of the team.
"Buy the right three players and I think they’re guaranteed to make the Champions League."
