Chelsea absolutely must get the new striker signing right this summer, otherwise we will not improve.
Scoring goals is what many people believe we lack and is going to be the difference maker. We need a goal scorer, sure. But it’s not just going to be about the name and calibre of striker we sign, it needs to also be about the profile.
There is no point in signing another striker who is stylistically similar to Nicolas Jackson, we need to target a striker who can provide something different. We need that other option.
When I see Chelsea looking at strikers like Hugo Ekitike, who is similar in style at least to Jackson, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense personally. I do like him, I think he looks like a top striker, and he does score goals. But I think if we truly want to elevate what we have, we need a proper number 9.
What Chelsea lack is box presence and an aerial threat, as well as a focal point. Chelsea need a striker who can bully centre backs, can hold the ball up, link the play, but also get into the box and make the right runs to arrive at crosses just like Marc Cucurella does. Just look at how many of our most recent goals have come from these types of play. Watch us against low blocks and look how many crosses we throw in. But we are aiming to nobody because we don’t have that aerial presence from our attackers. We instead have it from one of the shortest players on the pitch, who also happens to be a left back! We actually have a good crossing threat from our wingers and full backs (when they actually play as full backs).
If we added a 9 who can be more of a target in the air as well as on the ground, I genuinely think we would bag many more goals simply just by having that presence.
Nobody is saying get a big man in and lump balls forward aimlessly, but at least having that option gives us something different and gives us an aerial threat in the box. I have seen Robert Sanchez go long a lot lately, but who is he going long to? We don’t have anyone up there to win aerials and hold the ball up, do we?
I want to see Chelsea target a complete 9, one with traditional qualities but also modern attributes as well. I know people are now saying to me, ‘well who do we get then?’ But again, I don’t get paid thousands and thousands to find players for Chelsea, they have the experts to do that, I’m sure between them they can find the ideal option.
It’s crazy to me that we get linked with so many varied profiles and different style strikers – what is the thinking? Do we want an Victor Osimhen or do we want an Ekitike?
Victor Osimhen to me is the closest striker to what we need stylistically. Liam Delap ticks a lot of boxes but I just wish he was more of an aerial threat in the box and scored more headers. Benjamin Sesko is decent in the air but still has rawness concerns. Viktor Gyokeres ticks a lot of the boxes too but doesn’t have the aerial dominance of Osimhen.
What we need is a Chris Wood or a Jean-Philippe Mateta but perhaps with more quality. Although I’d take Mateta in a heart beat in all honesty, I think he’s a top striker and has elements of the modern striker about him as well as traditional.
Best shot conversion rates in the Premier League since the start of last season (100+ shots):
◎ 31.7% – Chris Wood
◎ 28.0% – Jean-Philippe Mateta
◎ 27.2% – Alexander Isak
◎ 21.5% – Erling Haaland
◎ 20.9% – Bryan Mbeumo
Obviously Harry Kane would be another good option but he also does tend to roam a bit too much and doesn’t stay in the box enough. Also not really a realistic option despite our ‘dream’ interest and him having a release clause.
I truly do hope Chelsea get this right, because it stays a big hole in our squad and has done since 2017 when Diego Costa left the club.
I think this is THE most important position that we HAVE to get right this summer. We don’t just need the name, although we DO need a name (I don’t want some raw teenager coming in for such an important position – we need experience there), but we also need the right profile and that is equally as important.
I’m going to add this I saw on X by user Miki Djan that I really enjoyed reading and agree with…
‘Gyokeres is a very good CF and fights for goals. But i keep wondering if he solves our current needs.
‘Our new striker MUST have the following to be in their skill set
‘1️⃣ Aerially dominant
‘2️⃣Strong Physical presence that gives CBs a headache with pressing and duels
‘3️⃣ Superb ball striking.
‘Any other attribute is a plus
‘So it is true that Osimhen is a strong name for this. Ticks it all but i also agree that we cannot just throw all caution to wind and bring him to the detriment of the team financial structure.
‘Gyokores doesn’t tick all those boxes. He ticks two. The second and third. But he isnt an aerial threat even in a weaker league. I dont see that changing in this league.
‘Sesko ticks 1&3 strongly but 2 is there but not at peak level yet in ground duels.
‘Delap ticks 2&3 but like Gyokores is not a force aerially though he is better at it than Gyokores at the moment and has more room to improve it.
‘Another name that have come up in an on and off fashion is Mateta. He ticks all three though his pressing is not as strong as the others. His performance in the league makes him an option to consider for cost but will fans understand?
‘UCL qualification is a critical requirement that can influence both Chelsea’s targets and the prospective player’s decisions.
‘But I think Chelsea will be pushing for Sesko since he may be able to tick all the technical boxes as well as the financial scope. Mateta is not a bad option to consider if u look at age and PL experience. Delap’s reported preference for United makes him undesirable because It will seem he doesn’t really want Chelsea. Gyokeres sounds good on paper but I have doubts.
‘If Osimhen can come to a good agreement with the club, then perfect option but I really understand the hesitation with him. Aside the financials, the potential for he and Jackson to all be unavailable for AFCON is a genuine concern too.
‘This window will be a very interesting one. BUT IT WILL ALL DEPEND on our Last two games of the SEASON and if WE CAN FIGHT AND WIN BOTH FINALS.’
