Chelsea's need for a striker is clear. 21 games into the season and only Everton have underperformed their xG by more than Mauricio Pochettino's side. It's a state of play that leaves them fourth in the xG table but as just the eighth highest scorers in reality.
It is the difference, in short, between challenging realistically for the top four/five this season and being where they currently are — on the outside in ninth and with a long way to go to even make a Europa League spot theirs. There have been signs of improvement in recent weeks though with Cole Palmer helping the team to a run of four wins in the last five and six in the last eight.
However, the shortcomings in front of goal remain and big chances are being spurned on a consistent basis. As Pochettino looks to find a solution internally — Armando Broja has his first real chance to put a stamp on his boyhood club at senior level — options are being sought in the transfer market.
Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney, Evan Ferguson and now even Karim Benzema are all names linked with a move. There are varying degrees of likeliness between them but for January it appears that no permanent forward will be arriving.
The profile of player needed is clear to many though and former Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi didn't hold back on his assessment of the recruitment plans. «We need a striker, simple as that,» he said on his own Obi One podcast.
«We need a good one. If you watch Haaland, most of his goals, where are they? In the f***ing box. The box. So that’s where we need a striker to score goals — to get in the f***ing box.»
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