Lampard delighted by Timo Werner signing as he lays down challenge for Tammy Abraham

Chelsea's signing of highly coveted goal-machine Timo Werner rightly attracted a lot of attention from all over the football world. It’s another statement-signing from the club after already getting a top creator in Hakim Ziyech.

Chelsea have dropped several points this season due to inconsistent finishing from our attackers and Werner, with 32 goals in all competitions this season would most definitely solve finishing issues.

For Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, that’s surely a bit of heavenly music.

"I’ve certainly followed him for a long time myself, individually, just as a talented player, even before I had this job. But as a club, clearly we went for him, and he certainly will strengthen us in my opinion.

“He’s got huge talent, had a fantastic season this year but before that as well. Where we probably couldn’t do as much business in the last couple of windows for whatever reasons, it’s given us a chance to see some youth have more time in the team.

“But we were very clear about the fact we wanted to improve and Timo Werner is always a signing that will improve us. I’m certainly very excited to have him playing for Chelsea and we look forward to having him.”

With clubs from all over Europe coveting the 24-year-old Germany international, Chelsea took advantage of our relatively strong financial position (thank you, transfer ban) to beat out all others including Premier League champions-elect Liverpool, who had long been considered favorites for Werner’s signature.

But there were more factors at play here than just the purely financial ones, as Lampard explained in yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

“We worked as hard as we could. I had good conversations with him personally, where I think he hopefully understands what I want to do here with the club, how we work, how we play.

“It seemed that it came across as a really exciting prospect for him, because he obviously had some very, very good options. We’re happy with that, it was very joined up from our end as to how we went about it, and we’re just pleased that Timo has decided to come to us."

Lampard's coaching mantra is very much derived from the ethos he displayed during his playing days. Hard work and humility to keep your head down were the attributes that made Lampard a legend not just at Chelsea but in the footballing world at large. It was no surprise that Lampard took to Werner instantly after he displayed similar qualities.

“I did speak to him [after confirmation he was joining Chelsea] and he was excited, which is great and I am certainly excited to have him here. We will have to hold our breath slightly because we have business at hand and so does he, finishing their league.

“He is the type of player we are looking at to come here and have a big impact. We will have to give him a bit of time, the Premier League is a different animal to other leagues in world football.

“But the quality that Timo has, the work ethic and personality, humility, really shone through for me when I was speaking to him. I am very happy to have him.”

Competition breeds success. This has been a common theme ever since Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea in 2003. The results of that policy have been there for all to see, and Lampard, who experienced that first hand, is determined to continue the tradition and values of the club.

Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

His message to Tammy Abraham and the rest of the team therefor has been clear. Chelsea Football Club will always remain ambitious and the players have to show the same to be picked by the manager.

"Yes, I have spoken to Tammy before on the idea of competition and I don’t feel the need to have to address every player after one comes in at a club like Chelsea because that’s what it is about.

“It has been about that in its most successful years in recent years in the Roman Abramovich era mainly. Tammy has had a really good season for us and he has to sustain and improve on that because at Chelsea we have demands.

“I am happy to have options and we have options in forward areas and we must have competition for places. I am pleased with the idea of that.”

-Frank Lampard; source: Goal

With Roman showing tremendous ambition and willing to drop the cash just like in 2003, the trajectory of Chelsea is only curling upwards.

Let’s go!