Lamptey is notably a product of the Blues’ famed academy and rose through the ranks, making multiple appearances for their U23 side. The 21-year-old started for Brighton last night (18 January) as the Seagulls hosted Thomas Tuchel’s outfit at the AMEX Stadium.
Graham Potter’s side managed a 1-1 draw following an excellent second-half performance. Many praised Brighton’s full-backs, Lamptey and Marc Cucurella, for their roles in the team’s display. The former in particular was a thorn in the side for Blues defender Marcos Alonso.
Speaking to BT Sport (via The Chelsea Chronicle) after the game, Cole, who coached Lamptey when the latter was at Stamford Bridge, said:
The former footballer added that Brighton need to hold on to Lamptey as he is crucial to their style of play. However, Cole also acknowledged that he will be targeted by many clubs in Europe, stating:
Tariq Lamptey highlights what Chelsea are missing in excellent display
Chelsea’s performances in recent times have warranted criticism and rightly so. Tuchel’s side have picked up just three wins in their last 10 Premier League encounters and have struggled on both ends of the pitch.
A major reason for this has been the absence of both their first-choice wing-backs. Reece James and Ben Chilwell are both nursing injuries that have kept the duo out for several weeks. Chilwell, in fact, is not expected to return until next season.
In such a scenario, it would’ve haunted Chelsea to see the performance of Lamptey at the AMEX Stadium. The 21-year-old was an absolute menace and constantly threatened the Blues backline all night.
Lamptey would have been an excellent deputy for James, but departed Stamford Bridge in search of more playing time in the summer of 2020. Interestingly, Brighton bought him at a snip for just £3 million.
The young right-back has already attracted plenty of interest as well. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have all been linked with a potential move for Lamptey in recent times.
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