Jack Rodwell - An ideal replacement for Lampard ?

Lampard and Jack Rodwell at a practice session for England

Andre Villas-Boas has identified Jack Rodwell as his first brick in rebuilding this Chelsea team, and a worthy successor to the charismatic Lampard who is on the wrong side of 30′s in his career.

Chelsea are expecting a bid around £20million will be enough to prise away the player from Goodison park.

The 20-year-old England international’s current spell with hamstring injury has kept him away from the first team action for a while now, and is expected to return around next month.

Despite a difficult first half of the season, the Villas-Boas appears to have the backing of Roman Abrahimovich in making some important changes next month which will be key to the teams fortunes.

Rodwell is an elegant ball player with the athleticism to get from box to box with ease, and would provide a direct replacement for Lampard once he decides to hang up his boots. For England he showed some great touches with the ball as well as genuine pace and an eye for goal. Fabio Capello feels that he has a bright future with England, and he would provide Villas-Boas with an option at a time when the Chelsea team, particularly the midfield, is in transition.

Jack Rodwell — Comparision with the Chelsea's midfield.

A new midfield has developed in recent weeks, with Oriol Romeu, Ramires and Raul Meireles forming a decent unit. It remains to be seen, however, if Jack could take up the defensive role with the same ease as the attacking one and provide more options for AVB in the midfield. But the feeling is that Rodwell would thrive in the company of the top international footballers Chelsea already possess.