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Chelsea's summer transfer plans centre almost entirely around signing a world class and prolific center forward to complement their resolute defence. With Olivier Giroud expected to be leaving the club, Chelsea find themselves short-staffed in the striker department.
Roadblocks in Chelsea's pursuit for Erling Haaland
While both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have been instrumental in Chelsea's Champions League victory and domestic cup and league finishes, there is a lingering feeling amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful that a ruthless goalscorer would be the final piece of Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea jigsaw.
Erling Braut Haaland, currently the most exciting young forward in European football, has been courted by Chelsea for many months now in a lingering transfer saga. With the 2021/22 season a few weeks away, negotiations between player and club have not advanced as the Blues expected them to, making the superstar signing potentially out of reach for this summer. Here are five alternative solutions Chelsea could consider to cure their centre-forward woes.
5. Tammy Abraham, Chelsea
An unconventional option worth more of a gamble than Tuchel has played, 24-year-old Tammy Abraham could step up to fill the void of a physical and goal-scoring centre forward at Chelsea. Under Frank Lampard, Abraham was quick to establish himself as first-choice centre forward, netting 15 goals in his first full season as first-team regular. Even in the last campaign, despite his constant omission in the final half of the season due to injury and the preference of Thomas Tuchel to use his German compatriots in the central striking position, Tammy Abraham finished joint top goalscorer with 12 goals.
Chelsea fans and Thomas Tuchel himself would insist that Abraham needs to improve his technical abilities in open play, adding the ability to hold up play and pass with greater sharpness, should he stand any chance of establishing himself in the team again.
From a financial perspective, he would be saving millions in transfer and agent fees. Abraham would be an in-house solution that can free up transfer funds for other targets such as Declan Rice and Frederico Chiesa.
4. Paulo Dybala, Juventus
Agrentine Paulo Dybala has forged an impressive career at Juventus, which has trailed off due to injuries and inconsitencies. With 4 goals and a single assist in a limited last season, the 27-year-old seems to be struggling to rediscover his best form. Whilst he generally operates in a wide inside-forward position, there are many who believe that the centre-forward role would bring out the best in Dybala due to his natural poacher instincts and direct dribbiling ability.
At Juventus, with Cristiano Ronaldo seemingly set to stay for another season, Dybala may be tempted to look at a smart Chelsea offer for a player in the final year of his contract in order to restablish his star in England.
3. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
It looks unlikely to happen considering the bad blood between the clubs, but were Chelsea to launch an audacious bid for the wantaway England and Tottenham captain, they would find a perfect player to take the team to the next level. The 27-year-old is frighteningly lethal in front of goal, having added the ability to drop deep and play as a creative centre forward over the last few seasons.
From a tactical perspective, seeing him link up with Timo Werner and the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic would strike fear into the hearts of most European defences. It would take a lot financially and maybe even more from a pride standpoint, but Chelsea could build their superteam around a talisman like Kane.
2. Danny Ings, Southampton
28-year-old Danny Ings has been one of the most in-form strikers in the Premier League, plundering over 44 goals over the last two campaigns for midtable Southampton. His back-to-goal style and sharpshooting abilities in the opposition penalty box would make him as close to a like-for-like replacement for Olivier Giroud, providing a more direct and attacking goal threat against teams who tend to drop deep in their own half against Chelsea.
Having announced he does not wish to sign a contract extension at Southampton, Chelsea may find it easy to attract a wantaway player for a reasonable fee, adding to the strong English core of the team.
1. Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan
It's been nearly a decade since Romelu Lukaku was a Chelsea player. Forced to be under the shadow of the legendary Didier Drogba, Lukaku found it hard to break into the Chelsea team and was forced to take the long route to sucess through a number of loan spells with West Brom and Everton, before having limited success in the Manchester United shirt.
The bruising Belgian striker has come into own in Italy, starring in a title-winning domestic campaign with Inter Milan and a personally successful Euro 2020. On a tactical front, the fiery combination of pace and physicality he presents is perfect to complete Thomas Tuchel's tactical vision of a ruthless forward line.
It would be tough to tempt Lukaku away from Inter Milan despite their financial troubles, having quickly become a confident fan favourite. But a return to old pastures for once destined success could be too hard to turn down should Chelsea come calling with the right financial offer.
