Lampard says he could have loaned out Mount and Tomori

The Blues were able to win their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the ban in December but the board decided against making any mid-season signings. Speaking to The Mail, Lampard has now revealed that Mount and Tomori could have been spending time on loan, had the club been free to make high-profile signings prior to the start to the season.

Would Mason have gone on loan again this year? Possibly. Probably. Tomori definitely would. It was my decision to keep Tomori because I'd worked with him at Derby and loved his attitude. I don't have to play Tammy — he has to show me why, of our three strikers, he deserves it,” he told in an interview with cousin Jamie Redknapp.

The trio of Mount, Tomori and Tammy Abraham have been influential towards the club’s push for Champions League football and they have now received a boost with Manchester City’s European ban for the next two seasons. The west London giants can now qualify for the elite European competition with the minimum of a fifth-place finish but they can’t be complacent with the chasing pack closing the gap on them.

Following the winter break, the Blues have back-to-back Premier League games at home to Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur and the fans will be hoping that the club can come up with positive results. Obviously, the Blues have had a tough time at home with just five wins from 12 league games this season but Lampard will be hoping that the players are revitalised after the much-needed break from the proceedings.