Frank Lampard believes Roman Abramovich will sanction a complete overhaul of the Chelsea squad after a season to forget.

The Blues were dismal in the first half of the 2015-16 campaign and Jose Mourinho was sacked in the lead up to Christmas after overseeing the club’s worst ever Premier League start.

Guus Hiddink has been parachuted in by Blues owner Abramovich in an attempt to salvage something from a season that has seen the club flirt dangerously with the relegation zone.

January offers the champions the chance to get the chequebook out and spend big to try and solve a few problems, with Lampard acknowledging reinforcements are badly needed.

However, the club’s all-time leading goalscorer thinks the big changes will have to wait until the summer window opens.

Lampard said: "From seeing some of the games I saw when I was back in England over the Christmas period, I think they need a new injection around the team.

"It's strange because a year ago, you're thinking, 'They've got a great squad and if they add to it they can really go.'

Frank Lampard's Chelsea career in pictures:

Frank Lampard's Chelsea career
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"Now you're thinking 'They need to revamp, to change some players.'

"I think that will happen in the summer. I think there will be three or four or five players and positions in the team that change around."

Lampard played under Mourinho during both of his spells as Chelsea boss and was one of the Special One’s most trusted lieutenants on the field.

The former England international remains good friends with the axed boss but admits a change at the top had become inevitable after the disastrous sequence of results.

Lampard added: "I think it was a difficult call. It's not easy to say whether it was the right or wrong solution until you look back and how it goes in the future, the next two or three years.

"Nobody was happy at Chelsea. The players wouldn't have been happy with [the club's] position. Jose Mourinho himself wouldn't have been.

"Sometimes that means a change. Chelsea are very used to change, but what they've always had is results, so I'd like to see them get back to the top half of the table very soon."

Timeline: Jose Mourinho's season from hell at Chelsea

Time Line

Timeline: Jose Mourinho's season from hell at Chelsea

  1. Eva row

    August 8 – Mourinho criticises first-team doctor Eva Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn for 'naivety' in running onto the field, at the referee's instruction, to treat Eden Hazard in the opening day draw against Chelsea.

  2. Terry subbed

    August 16 – The Special One hauls captain John Terry off at half-time in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City; the first time he has taken the defender off in a league game.

  3. Costa row

    September 19 – Mourinho was furious with Arsenal and the FA after Diego Costa was retrospectively banned for a feud with Gunners defenders Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel.

  4. Roman dare

    October 3 – After a 3-1 defeat to Southampton, Mourinho practically dared Roman Abramovich to sack him; prompting the club to issue a vote of confidence.

  5. Referee abuse

    October 3 – In that same press conference, Mourinho criticised referee Robert Madeley and earned a £50,000 fine and a suspended stadium ban, which he is appealing.

  6. Electronic tag

    October 15 – Mourinho hits back at the governing body and says he's delighted he wasn't issued with an electronic tag.

  7. Hazard warning

    October 17 – The Portuguese boss criticises Eden Hazard's work rate after dropping him for their 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

  8. Mourinho meltdown

    October 24 – Mourinho is sent off for accosting Jon Moss during half-time at West Ham as Chelsea are condemned to another defeat.

  9. Capital One Cup exit

    October 27 - Chelsea are dumped out of the League Cup as 10-man Stoke City win on penalties

  10. Halloween horror show

    October 31 - Chelsea are beaten 3-1 at Stamford Bridge by Liverpool. After the game Mourinho delivers a bizarre post-match interview, repeatedly answering questions with: "I have nothing to say".

  11. Stadium ban

    November 2 - Mourinho handed a one-match stadium ban and fined £40,000 for his behaviour during the West Ham defeat.

  12. More woe at Stoke

    November 7 - Chelsea lose their seventh Premier League game of the season, as they go down 1-0 at Stoke. Mourinho serves out his stadium ban.

  13. Bib row

    November 29 - Diego Costa is dropped to the bench and appeared to petulantly throw a bib at Mourinho. The champions are held to a goalless draw at Tottenham.

  14. Shocked by Cherries

    December 5 - The pressure is cranked up further on Mourinho after his side lose 1-0 at home to injury-hit Premier League new boys Bournemouth.

  15. Last game in charge

    December 14 - A ninth league defeat of the season, this time to Leicester, comes days after the Blues qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. The Chelsea boss says afterwards he feels "betrayed" by his players, hinting at a dressing room revolt.

  16. End of the road

    December 17 - Mourinho gets the boot after days of discussions at boardroom level. Chelsea cancel Friday's pre-match press conference.

2016 January Transfer Window

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