On the final day of the January transfer window, Frank Lampard sat in front of the assembled media in a sulk. A sulk over Chelsea’s lack of transfer activity.
With the club’s transfer embargo lifted, Lampard had wanted a new centre forward to replace Olivier Giroud. The window passed, however, without a single signing made and the Blues boss struggled to mask his disgruntlement.
This was perhaps a factor in Chelsea announcing a deal for the £33.4m signing of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax just three weeks later. Far from being a signing merely to appease Lampard, it was a precursor for what would be the most significant summer Chelsea have experienced since the early days of the Roman Abramovich era.
Lampard can sulk no longer. On top of Ziyech’s arrival, a deal was reached for the signing of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig, snatching the Germany international from under the noses of Liverpool who had long been presumed frontrunners for the striker’s signature.
Lampard wanted a striker and he was delivered one of the very best in Europe.
He also wanted a left back and so Ben Chilwell was signed for £50million from Leicester City. Thiago Silva arrived as a free agent to address Chelsea’s desperate need for an experienced central defender, with French youngster Malang Sarr also signing for good measure.
And, as if that wasn’t enough for one summer, Kai Havertz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £71million - £1m less than their club-record fee paid for Kepa Arrizabalaga two years ago.
All these signings will heap pressure on Lampard to forge a winning team. There is no doubting Chelsea made progress under their former midfielder last season, with a number of young players breaking through to significantly lower the average age of the squad at Stamford Bridge. But, while Lampard was afforded a honeymoon period, now that period is over.
Hard results are required. Chelsea have not spent over £200 million to go through another transitional spell and this is where Lampard could potentially struggle.
The gulf between the league's best, in Liverpool and Manchester City, and the rest in the Premier League is so vast that third place might still be the best outcome Chelsea can hope for this season. But, after such a big summer, expectation will outstrip this.