The 2019-20 campaign was always likely to be a transitional one for Chelsea, who were banned from signing any new players last summer and brought in Frank Lampard as their new boss - a club legend, but a man relatively inexperienced in the managerial stakes.

Factor in the loss of star man Eden Hazard as well and the Blues will be pretty pleased with how the campaign has panned out thus far.

A top-four spot was considered by many to be a good achievement for Chelsea, and when play was stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic they sat in that fourth place, three points clear of Manchester United in fifth.

The transfer embargo forced the club to turn to some of the youngsters who had been knocking on the first-team door for a while before that, and their emergence has certainly been a major bonus from the season.

However, they have struggled for consistency like every other team in the top-four race and have already lost nine games this season, including five at Stamford Bridge.

Here, the Sports Mole team pick their player of the season for Chelsea.

Barney Corkhill, Editor: Tammy Abraham

There have been more consistent performers for Chelsea than Tammy Abraham this season, but the way the striker has fared in his first proper campaign as a first-team player for the Blues has been superb.

One of the big questions after Hazard left was where would the goals come from, and Abraham soon allayed concerns with seven in his first five league games - an early indication that he was more than ready to make the step up to regular top-flight football.

The goals have admittedly dried up since then - six in his last 20 - but his 13 league strikes overall in 2019-20 have earned Chelsea 12 points; without him, they would be in the bottom half of the table.

Matt Law, Football Editor: Mateo Kovacic

Perhaps a controversial choice, but Mateo Kovacic has been outstanding in the Premier League for Chelsea this season. When available, the 25-year-old has only missed two league fixtures for the Blues this term, impressing in the middle of the park.

Only Jorginho and Cesar Azpilicueta have made more passes in the Premier League for Frank Lampard's side this season, while he has also provided three assists from a deep position.

Tammy Abraham's goals should be highlighted, but Kovacic, whose pass success rate in the league this season is just shy of 90%, has been consistently impressive in recent months.

Darren Plant, Senior Reporter: Mateo Kovacic

Despite Chelsea sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, not one player can claim to have enjoyed a consistent campaign. While Tammy Abraham would be the obvious pick for his 13 goals in the top flight, the Blues have been indebted to Mateo Kovacic, who has been deployed in varying roles in central midfield due to N'Golo Kante's injury problems.

Although the Croatian made little noticeable impact under Maurizio Sarri, he has emerged as a leader in a young squad, relishing the extra responsibility and chances to influence the game going forward.

Frank Lampard would have wanted more than one goal and three assists out of Kovacic, but the 25-year-old has kept Chelsea ticking over throughout the season, something which was desperately needed during a period of transition.

Dan Lewis, Senior Reporter: Mateo Kovacic

Tammy Abraham has scored plenty of goals, Mason Mount has adapted well to Premier League football and Willian has proved that he can still do a job at the highest level.

But for me Chelsea's most consistent performer this season has been Kovacic, who was signed on a permanent deal last summer and has performed far better in his second campaign at Stamford Bridge than his first.

As well as providing the Blues with some midfield drive, he has also scored a couple of goals and chipped in with a few assists, adding to the one aspect of his game that was previously lacking.

Ben Knapton, Reporter: Tammy Abraham

It is difficult to look past Tammy Abraham as Chelsea's player of the season for me.

The 22-year-old has registered a terrific return of 13 goals and three assists this term, and is just one of the young Englishmen to have blossomed under the guidance of Frank Lampard.

Mason Mount and Reece James have both enjoyed breakthrough campaigns at Stamford Bridge and are worthy of a mention, while Mateo Kovacic has proved just how important he is to Chelsea's midfield in N'Golo Kante's absence, but Abraham's prolific record in front of goal cannot be overlooked.