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Chelsea’s attacking troubles: Why are the Blues struggling despite heavy spending?

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Chelsea’s attacking troubles: Why are the Blues struggling despite heavy spending?
Chelsea’s attacking troubles: Why are the Blues struggling despite heavy spending?

New Delhi: Chelsea’s attacking woes have been laid bare in recent weeks, with injuries, tactical adjustments, and a lack of a genuine center-forward leaving them toothless in front of goal. Despite spending over £1.5 billion since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over the club, the Blues find themselves without a reliable striker and are struggling to create meaningful goal-scoring opportunities.

The Blues have no goal threat apart from talisman Cole Palmer with none of their attackers particularly lethal in front of goal. They failed in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen in the summer and Nico Jackson, who had been firing till December has lost all his form and has now been ruled out till April. Youngster Marc Guiu also suffered an injury in the same game as Jackson and is out for a similar time, leaving Chelsea with no out an out striker against Brighton.

Enzo Maresca’s side was completely outclassed in their recent 3-0 defeat to the Seagulls, failing to register a single shot on target. With their last fit senior attackers on the pitch and no recognized striker available, Chelsea’s lack of attacking identity was exposed. So, how have they found themselves in this mess despite a heavy outlay in the transfer market, and what can be done to fix it?

‘Boehly’s Billion Pound Bottlejobs?’

Since the BlueCo takeover, Chelsea have spent a staggering amount of money on attackers. In fact, of the £1.5 billion spent on transfers, £445 million has been used to bring in forwards. Yet, despite such heavy investment, the club is now left without a single fit striker. The Blues have been crying out for a leading number nine but haven’t been able to find the right person to lead their attack.

The ownership has only sanctioned a handful of recognized center-forwards, none of whom have been successes barring Jackson, who has been a hit and miss signing at best. He was brought in from Villareal for £32 million and despite scoring vital goals, has been known for his poor finishing and offside runs is now out for a long time with a hamstring issue. They brought in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £12 million from Barcelona and he proved to be one of the worst signings under the ownership.

The former Arsenal man was frozen out following Thomas Tuchel’s sacking and was let go on a free to Marseille and miraculously found his form in France. Apart from them, they have only signed unproven youngsters like David Datro Fofana, Deivid Washington and Marc Guiu, none of whom have been given regular game time with Fofana and Washington on the verge of being forced out of the club and Guiu has shown some encouraging signs but is now injured as well.

Instead of investing in a proven striker, Chelsea’s recruitment has focused on wingers and attacking midfielders, such as Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto, and Joao Felix. However, none of them are natural number nines and they themselves haven’t proven to be resounding successes. While Cole Palmer has been a revelation since his arrival from Manchester City, he is not a traditional striker either.

His best performances have come playing off a central striker, as shown in his partnership with Jackson earlier this season. The lack of foresight in Chelsea’s transfer dealings has left them reliant on an attacking system that cannot function effectively without a focal point. They were linked with many names throughout the season but none came through the door and the club is now paying the price for it.

Chelsea’s attacking Injury Crisis

Chelsea’s attack has been decimated by injuries, adding to their already difficult situation. Nicolas Jackson is sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury, while Marc Guiu faces an indefinite spell out with a groin problem. Noni Madueke also suffered a hamstring injury against Brighton, further depleting Chelsea’s attacking options. To make matters worse, Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended for allegedly testing positive for a banned substance.

With both Guiu and Jackson unavailable, Chelsea currently have no recognised striker in their squad. Christopher Nkunku, who was expected to play a key role this season, has struggled to regain full fitness after multiple setbacks and is not suited to be playing as a number nine. His performances have been underwhelming, and he looks unprepared for the intensity of the Premier League. Without a focal point up front, Chelsea’s attack has lacked fluidity and cutting edge.

The ongoing injury crisis has forced Enzo Maresca into desperate tactical adjustments, but none have provided a real solution. His attempts to play without a natural number nine have left Chelsea struggling to create meaningful chances. Against Brighton, they had 69.4% possession yet failed to register a single shot on target. If Maresca cannot find a way to adapt, Chelsea’s attacking struggles could worsen in the coming weeks.

Palmer’s Decline in Form

Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s standout player this season, scoring 14 goals and providing six assists in the Premier League. However, he has now gone four league games without a goal for the first time since joining the club. His dip in form coincides with Jackson’s injury, highlighting how much he benefited from playing off a central striker. Palmer’s ability to link play is excellent, but without a proper number nine ahead of him, his effectiveness is limited.

Maresca acknowledged this after the Brighton defeat, saying, “Football is a team, it’s not tennis. It’s not only Cole Palmer. We are all the same in this moment.” While Palmer’s numbers are still impressive, Chelsea’s inability to create goal-scoring opportunities is starting to affect his performances. He needs more support, but at the moment, there are no clear solutions.

Joao Felix could’ve offered a solution here as the Portuguese could play up front in a false nine role but he was shipped out on loan to AC Milan, baffling everyone not a part of the club. Felix hadn’t been utilized properly all season and this could’ve been his opportunity as playing alongside Palmer could’ve gotten the best out of both of them but the club’s sporting directors sacrificed the club’s season in favour of a measly profit.

How Can Chelsea Fix Their Attacking Problems?

There is no easy fix for Chelsea’s attacking struggles, but there are potential solutions. One of the most immediate options is getting the best out of Christopher Nkunku, who was signed to be a key attacking figure but has struggled with form and fitness. If Maresca can help him regain sharpness and confidence, he could become the short-term answer up front. Without a natural striker, Chelsea desperately need someone to step up and provide a goal threat.

Another possible solution is turning to the academy, as injuries have left the squad with limited attacking options. Tyrique George was included on the bench against Brighton, and other youth prospects like Shim Mheuka and Ronnie Stutter could be given opportunities. Chelsea have a strong history of developing young talent, and this could be the perfect time for fresh faces to emerge. While relying on untested youngsters is risky, it may be a gamble worth taking given the club’s current predicament.

Maresca could also consider a tactical shift to make better use of his available attackers. His current system relies on a striker who can link play and create space, but without that presence, he may need to rethink his approach. A counter-attacking setup could help Chelsea make the most of their pace out wide, while a return to a back-three system might offer more defensive stability. Tactical flexibility is key, and Maresca must adapt quickly to avoid further struggles in front of goal.

In the long term, Chelsea’s failure to sign a reliable number nine has been costly, and addressing that issue must be a priority in the summer transfer window. Despite spending over £1.5 billion, the club still lacks a proven striker, and their attacking inefficiency has been exposed. Maresca now faces his biggest challenge since taking charge, as he must find a way to get the best out of his remaining options. The summer window will be crucial, but for now, Chelsea need a short-term fix to prevent their season from completely falling apart.

 Chelsea have been struggling in attack lately and are now without any striker to lead their line with both Nico Jackson and Marc Guiu out. How did they reach this point despite spending over a billion pounds in the market?  Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today

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