Chelsea new boys Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech will set Premier League alight from start, believes captain Azpilicueta

CESAR AZPILICUETA says Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech can make immediate impacts on the Premier League after having the benefit of training with Chelsea last season.

The delayed ending to the campaign, coupled with Chelsea’s involvement in the FA Cup and Champions League, meant Werner and Ziyech were able to train with their new teammates for two weeks.

This has allowed the pair to get used to the methods of Frank Lampard and his coaches.

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And Azpilicueta is sure it will help ex-Ajax winger Ziyech, and £46.7million forward Werner, fire right from the big kick-off on September 12.

The Blues captain said: "The quicker and easier they can adapt to the Premier League, the better it will be for everybody so it was good to have them with the group for a few weeks at the end of the season.

"They are already integrated and know everybody so it's been a very good time for that and now we're all looking forward to seeing them on the pitch.

"Both of them have shown their quality in training in these past couple of weeks.

"We have seen their potential offensively, the way they can create chances and the way they can score goals so they are big additions to the team.”

REINFORCEMENTS

Lampard and the club are now desperate to bring in players to strengthen a defence which conceded 79 goals in all competitions over the last campaign.

Unless they dramatically improve there is little chance they will be able to challenge domestically or in Europe next season.

Declan Rice and Ben Chilwell are outfield targets while Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak is also in their sights as they look to offload Kepa from between the posts.

Azpilicueta added: "The story of a lot of games this season has been that we were not clinical in the boxes.

"In the attacking box, we have missed chances but I think the big problem was that sometimes we were playing well but we were not strong enough in our box.

"I always think of the offensive and defensive phases as a team and as a unit we know we have to keep improving at the back.

"We have to reduce the numbers of goals conceded if we want to close the gap because it's a big difference.

"I'm sure we will work hard to reduce the gap and be close to the top next season."