Frank Lampard believes ’20-goal a season’ striker Alvaro Morata can replace departing star Diego Costa at Chelsea this season.
Antonio Conte secured the signing of Spain international Morata last month, having missed out on Romelu Lukaku who opted to join Manchester United earlier in the summer.
The Italian boss told Costa he was free to leave the Premier League champions at the end of the 2016-17 campaign and will hope Morata can fill the void left by the fiery 28-year-old.
And club legend Lampard has backed Morata to do just that following his move from La Liga giants Real Madrid.
When asked about Conte’s mixed summer transfer window, the former England midfielder told talkSPORT: ‘I think you can sense a frustration in his press conferences and I can understand that.
‘If you have such a good season as they did last year, as a manager and as a club you want to push on and freshen up the team, and adding to it is important.
‘Particularly if you’re losing some big players and Diego Costa seems to be [on] the way [out] but I don’t have too many worries about that.
‘Alvaro Morata will be a good signing. I think he’s going to be a 20-goal a season man.
‘What I do think is they need to strengthen as they’re in the Champions League this season and you need a really strong squad. They need to add to it.’
As well as bringing Morata to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have also added Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko to Conte’s squad.
But Eden Hazard is being linked with a stunning summer move with Barcelona and Real Madrid long-term admirers of the Belgian superstar.
‘It’s hugely important to keep Eden Hazard,’ Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer, said.
‘For me he is one of the best players in the Premier League and in world football. When he is fit and playing he makes Chelsea the team they are.’
MORE : Antonio Conte rules out making a mega-signing this summer
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