- Chelsea are looking for a striker during the January transfer window
- The Blues have been linked with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen
- CHRIS SUTTON: Chelsea’s progress is too slow… they won’t be good wine until they spend money AGAIN – It all starts
Chelsea could turn their attention to Karim Benzema and Roberto Firmino as they look to address their lack of firepower in January.
Despite investing more than £1 billion in players since Todd Boehly took charge two years ago, the Blues are ready to spend money again this month with a striker at the top of their wish list.
Nicolas Jackson has scored eight goals in 23 appearances in all competitions after joining from Villarreal in the summer for £37m, while Christopher Nkunku has scored once in three Premier League appearances for £50m after spending the first three months of the season had missed with a knee injury. .
Of the teams in the top half of the Premier League, only Manchester United and West Ham have scored fewer goals than Chelsea’s return of 35 in 21 games and Mauricio Pochettino is keen to solve the problem this month.
Mailsport reported last week that Chelsea have a strong interest in Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen, who has a £103m release clause.
Karim Benzema is one of the options Chelsea are considering in January
Former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino is also being considered this month
Your browser does not support iframes.
Sources close to the 25-year-old have indicated that the Nigerian striker is open to joining the Blues.
But it is more likely that, given its cost, that deal will gain momentum in the summer, especially with Osimhen attending the Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, there is growing belief that Ivan Toney, who is also on Arsenal’s radar, will remain at Brentford until the end of the season after returning to action following his eight-month ban.
Combined with the need to meet Premier League profit and sustainability rules, that could force the Blues to settle for a short-term loan this month.
According to The TelegraphFirmino and Benzema both fit the bill.
The former Real Madrid striker has reportedly been locked out of Al-Ittihad’s training camp in Dubai after repeatedly failing to report for duty. His camp claimed he was stuck in Mauritius, where he was on holiday, due to a storm.
Mauricio Pochettino is eager to sign a striker in January to address his team’s lack of goals
Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s joint top scorer this season with eight goals
Nicolas Jackson also scored eight goals but is yet to convince after joining from Villarreal for £37million last summer
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner signed a three-year contract worth £258million with the Saudi club this summer, but despite scoring 15 goals in 24 games, rumors swirled about his future from the moment that he ended up in the Middle East.
“We have to give the players and staff some rest,” he said.
‘It is a very busy period now, they need to catch their breath. This break is well deserved.
‘I think they need a few days off. They deserve it. Then, to attack the second half of the season. They need a break.”
Firmino, meanwhile, has not scored for Al-Alhi in 18 games in all competitions since scoring a hat-trick on his debut after moving to Saudi Arabia on a free transfer.
Jackson and Cole Palmer are Chelsea’s joint top scorers with eight goals each this season, but the former is currently away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Armando Broja is fit again after a long-term injury but remains unproven at Chelsea, scoring just twice in 17 appearances in all competitions this season.
After Palmer’s penalty secured a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, Pochettino said the Premier League winter break came at a good time for his team but was cagey about potential January signings.