5 Strikers who might replace Alvaro Morata at Chelsea

Chelsea signed Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid for a club record 80 million euro transfer fee last summer. The Spanish striker started out confidently scoring a goal an providing an assist on his league debut. But over the course of the season, he failed to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge. Things turned for the worse in 2018 when he scored his first goal of the year only after the middle of March. He was never able to replicate the form that he showed during his previous stints at Juventus and Real.

The Blues' suffered a torrid 2017-18 and finished outside the Champions League places. Conte's future also looks dicey with his constant battles with the board regarding transfers. Owner Roman Abramovich himself faces visa issues with the British government. All is not well at Chelsea. A new striker is just what they need to lift the mood as they prepare for 2018-19.

Here's a list of 5 Strikers who can replace Morata and lead the line for Chelsea:

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#5 Mauro Icardi

Icardi snubbed by Argentina for the World Cup but could still have a busy summer

The Argentinian striker might not be going to Russia but he is still expected to have a busy summer. With talks over a new contract still not finalized there is going to much speculation about his future over the coming few months.

'El nino del partido' as he is fondly called is a complete striker quite like Morata. He can score with his head and both feet. A physical presence in the box, he also moves well without the ball. He has a proven goal scoring record with nearly a century of goals in his last four seasons with Inter Milan.

While he might not be an upgrade on Morata, if he finds form in England he might just be the centre-forward that Chelsea needs to play in front of Hazard and Willian. With his wife Wanda Nara overseeing his transfers - an offer in the region of what they paid for Morata might be enough to seal the deal.

#4. Olivier Giroud / Michy Batshuayi / Tammy Abraham

Will one of the existing 3 get a proper run?

Apart from Morata, Chelsea have three strikers on their books and all of them did pretty well last season in their different roles. So instead of bringing in someone new, one of them could be trusted to lead the line.

Olivier Giroud was given a decent stretch of games to prove his utility towards the end of the season. He is a proven goal scorer and a strong centre forward in the mould of Blues legend Didier Drogba. His 'scorpion' goal is a testament to his talent. Despite being 30+ he could be a stop gap arrangement if Chelsea don't get someone else.

Despite scoring the title winning goal in the 2016-17 season, Michy Batshuayi has never been given a good run in the team. He has made over 50 appearances for the Blues but most of them have come off the bench. Conte has preferred to use a false number 9 rather than start with this Belgian whizkid. Sent out on loan in the winter transfer window to Borussia Dortmund, he shined with 7 goals in 10 appearances before getting injured. Can his off the pitch camaraderie with Eden Hazard turn into a reliable partnership on the pitch?

At just 20 years of age, Tammy Abraham is another player in the long lost of Chelsea players being sent out on loan to gain first team experience. At Swansea City he played 39 games last season getting some much needed playing time under his belt. While his goal tally of 8 might not sound impressive it came with a side which got relegated from the Premier League. Raw but hugely talented he can turn into a real goalscorer with the right guidance.

Chelsea have not been very keen on giving any of these three a regular run in the starting XI but with no Champions League football on offer, they might have to make do with whatever resources they have on their roster.

#3 Robert Lewandowski

Fresh Challenge in London?

The Polish goal machine needs no introduction. With more than 150 goals for Bayern Munich in the last four years, he is deadly in front of goal. Media reports claim that he will leave the German champions as he seeks a new challenge. Having won three consecutive Bundesliga titles - perhaps he wants to win the Champions League or try his luck in a more competitive league like the Premier League. Hiring Pini Zahavi as is new agent has further added fuel to fire.

If European club glory is what he wants then the move to Chelsea is highly unlikely as he Blues will only be playing in the Europa League this season. But perhaps Lewandowski is looking to prove himself in arguably the toughest league in the world.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs all have a well settled forward line and Liverpool are unlikely to change their playing style. This means Chelsea is the only possible destination should he decide to move to the Premier League.

A more important distraction can come in the form of Real Madrid should he catch their fancy. There will be no shortage of offers for the Pole from other leagues as well. But he would instantly fit in with Chelsea's preferred playing style as they like to play with a single big centre forward.

#2 Karim Benzema

Ronaldo moving to a

centre-forward

role would leave Benzema surplus to requirements

Cristiano Ronaldo's desire to move to centre-forward and stack up those goal stats is no secret. After all, numbers also paint their own story. That would make Karim Benzema surplus to requirements. And I doubt he would want to be warming benches just yet.

A powerful striker with a killer instinct inside the box, Benzema has been at the Bernabeu for nine seasons now. Over the years he has scored a phenomenal 192 goals for the club. But only 12 of those came last season despite making 47 appearances in all competitions.

There is no denying the fact that his role with Real Madrid is becoming marginal. If they can sign a winger like Eden Hazard allowing Ronaldo to move to the center, they would perhaps be willing to let Benzema move in the opposite direction. Though he is 30 plus now, a proven goal scorer is just what the Blues need to get things back on track.

#1 Gonzalo Higuain

Sarri wants a Chelsea reunion with this star player

Chelsea have been actively pursuing Maurizio Sarri as a replacement for current manager Antonio Conte. But Napoli have been holding out for a sizable transfer fee despite already having signed a replacement in Carlo Ancelotti. A deal is still likely as it would be simply stupid for Napoli to keep paying Sarri's wages when he would be doing nothing much apart from watering the grass maybe.

Gonzalo Higuain played for Sarri at Napoli before sealing an Italian transfer record-breaking 90 million euro move to the Old Lady. Sarri now wants 'El Pipita' at Stamford Bridge should he take up a managerial position with the Blues. Higuain is clinical in front of the goal and averages nearly 30 goals a season in his five years in the Serie A.

He still has two or three years at the top and Chelsea could do with a striker like him. In fact, a swap deal with Alvaro Morata returning to Juventus has also been mooted. This would suit both clubs with Morata having excelled during his time in Turin.

If Sarri moves to Chelsea then Higuain would definitely be his number 1 target.