Frank Lampard has told Tammy Abraham that he should expect to have to compete for his starting place at a club like Chelsea.
The Blues boss spoke about the competition £48million Leipzig striker Timo Werner will inspire within the squad next season, provided he passes his medical.
In his first pre-match press conference for over three months – ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon – Lampard addressed the issue of whether he must offer existing players reassurance when an expensive signing arrives in their position.
The midfield legend said that he had given Abraham a pep talk on the subject in the past and that the England youngster will be prepared to perform for his place.
“I have spoken to Tammy before about the idea of competition,” Lampard told reporters via videoconference from Cobham.
“I don’t feel the need to have to address every player if a player comes in who might contest their position at a club like Chelsea, because that is what it is all about.
“It has been about that in its most successful years.”
“Tammy has had a very good season for us this season and has to sustain and improve on that because at Chelsea we have demands,” Lampard explained.
“I am happy to have options and we have options in forward areas.
“We must have competition for places – and I am pleased with the idea of that.”
Abraham has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge under Lampard, scoring 14 goals in 33 games so far, including a hat-trick against Wolves in September.
But Lampard is looking forward to reinforcing his forward line with highly rated Werner, who had been linked to major clubs across Europe such as Liverpool.
“He will certainly strengthen us in my opinion. He has huge talent. He has had a fantastic season this year but before that as well,” Lampard said.
“Where we couldn’t do as much business in the last couple of windows for whatever reasons, it has given us the chance to see some youth have more time in the team.
“We were very clear that we want to improve, and Timo Werner is a signing we feel will improve us.
“I am certainly very excited to have him playing for Chelsea. We look forward to having him.”
At the age of 24, Werner is an established Germany international and last year became the youngest player to reach 200 Bundesliga appearances.
He has scored 32 goals in all competitions so far this campaign, lifting Leipzig to third in the league and a Champions League quarter-final spot.
Lampard revealed that Werner is “the type of player and the type of profile we are looking at.”
“The talent I think Timo has and the work ethic and his personality and humility really shone through to me when speaking to him, so I am very excited to have him in all senses,” he added.
