New Delhi: Premier League outfit Chelsea are flying high right now after starting the season in top form under new manager Enzo Maresca. The Italian has led the Blues to third in a league currently, a position they haven’t been in since Thomas Tuchel was in charge of the club, what feels like some centuries ago. The Blues are just behind defending champions Manchester City by a solitary point and sit above the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United.
While there are still some areas of concern for the club, on the whole things seem to be going smoothly for the five time Premier League champions. With the winter transfer window looming just round the corner, the club is once again linked with numerous strikers, as they have been since Diego Costa left the club, with deals being touted for every striker that is showing great form.
Chelsea continue to be linked with prolific strikers
🚨 #Chelsea scouts shortlist strikers. The hierarchy has not been decided yet.
Victor Osimhen
Alexander Isak
Liam Delap
Viktor Gyokeres
Evan Ferguson
Jonathan David
Benjamin Sesko
● In addition, #Chelsea scouts are monitoring many striker talents. pic.twitter.com/GThXF9Qrsg
— 𝑯𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝕏 🏴 (@HaithamMMS) November 25, 2024
The major part of the 2024 summer transfer window went with the London club being linked with wantaway Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. The club were heavily interested in trying to bring the Nigerian to the club and spent the entire deadline day trying to strike a deal with the striker only for nothing to materialize. The Blues also pulled out of a deal to sign then-Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion in the summer.
As we approach the winter window, the links that never really went away, have started to creep back in. Victor Osimhen is banging in goals for fun on loan at Galatasaray in Turkey but a report from Transfersdotcom claims that Galatasaray won’t be able to sign Osimhen on a permanent basis, something that is reciprocated by former Super Lig manager Yilmaz Vural, which gives Chelsea a chance to sign the Nigerian.
Reports in Portugal claim that Chelsea are looking at signing Sporting CP’s striking sensation, Viktor Gyokeres in the coming summer whereas reports from TEAMtalk claims that the London club is also interested in signing Newcastle’s Swedish striker Alexander Isak, whom the club reported value at a whopping £115 million. The question that arises however, are the Blues still in need of a new number nine?
Are Chelsea still in need of a new number nine?
The short answer for this question is a simple no. Chelsea aren’t in a dire need for a striker anymore and neither were the club in need of one back in the summer as well. However, in the summer it made sense for the club to buy a new striker but after the season has started, all those doubts and questions have been laid to rest by the club, particularly by the attacking department.
The Pensioners have scored a whopping 46 goals this seasons in all competitions, with half of those coming in the Premier League. Chelsea’s 23 league goals is the third highest in the league, behind only Liverpool and Tottenham. They have scored at least four goals in all of their UEFA Conference League games, winning the latest of their games against Azerbaijani side FC Noah by a whopping 8-0 scoreline.
Breaking down their attacking numbers individually shows exactly why Chelsea don’t need another attacking reinforcement. The club currently have an abundance of attacking talent at the club, all of whom seem to be flourishing this season. The attacking options at Marseca’s disposal consist of Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix and the underrated Nicolas Jackson.
Nicolas Jackson after 12 games this season compared to last season. pic.twitter.com/ktsny6Y1jV
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) November 24, 2024
Jackson, who was at times unfairly criticized last season, has begun the season in terrific fashion and the Senegalese striker looks to be a man reborn under Maresca. Jackson has already contributed to seven goals and three assists this season in just 13 games. After 12 games last season, he only had six goals and in comparison to this one, he has improved his goal scoring numbers and also his assists. The 23-year-old is improving with every game and is showing why the club was right in trusting him.
And it’s not just Nico Jackson who is banging in the goals for the Blues. His form leading the line is so good that he’s not letting Christopher Nkunku into the first team, despite the Frenchman having scored 10 goals in 18 appearances, most of which have come from the bench. Add to this Palmer’s 12 goal contributions, seven from Mudryk, six each from Felix and Neto, and five goals and three assists from Madueke and Sancho respectively, and this underlines why Chelsea shouldn’t spend big on either of Osimhen, Gyokeres, or Isak.
Chelsea should focus on defensive reinforcements
🚨 Chelsea are considering a summer swoop to re-sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
(Source: @TheSunFootball) pic.twitter.com/o6TCyQnZ6n
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) November 27, 2024
The club should instead focus it’s efforts on bringing in defensive reinforcements in the winter window, or at least in the next summer transfer window. Chelsea currently have Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Tosin Adarabioyo as their defensive options but none of them scream solidity. Colwill and Fofana have the potential to be a great pairing and even though they’re improving, they still have some mistakes in them.
Tosin was a smart acquisition and is a solid option but both Disasi and Badiashile are average defenders at best. They don’t strike confidence amongst the fans when playing and are very prone to making errors. Focusing on bringing in one or two quality defenders should be where the club should be focusing. The Sun states that Chelsea are looking to re-sign former academy player Marc Guehi and they should make that a priority for one of the next two windows.
Premier League side Chelsea continue to be linked with various strikers despite sitting third in the league table. Are the London-based club still in need of signing a new number nine? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
