Chelsea plan double scouting mission for £85m Nicolas Jackson January transfer alternative

Chelsea are ramping up their efforts to sign a new striker in January, reports suggest. The Blues are the second lowest scorers in the top half of the table with only Manchester United having managed less after 17 games. It hasn't been for a want of trying though.

Creating chances hasn't been an issue for Mauricio Pochettino's men on the whole but converting them certainly has been. After nearly half of the season Chelsea have the third highest xG according to understat, underperforming the metric by nearly eight goals.

For comparison, only Everton (-8.21) and Manchester United (-8.08) have a worse record than Chelsea (-7.90) at this stage. It has cost Pochettino an estimated seven points that would in theory have them level with Newcastle in sixth and just four behind Tottenham on 33.

Pochettino himself has been quick to point out just how much finishing has cost his side, saying after the defeat at Everton: «If we are not able to score today with all the chances we had, we have to score if we want to win the game. We want to be in a different position in the table. The team played well against a very difficult team like Everton. We were much better than them but you need to score.

»After the first half of the season, we need to check. That is the reality. If we are not receiving enough, maybe we need to do some movement. That is the thing to analyse with the sporting directors, to see if we can change the dynamic and improve in the second half of the season."

The 51-year-old did later address that, claiming that in the heat of the moment he went over the top and that mass changes aren't necessary. However, the Blues do still look set to be active in the winter market regardless.

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