Chelsea have exceeded the expectations of most in the Premier League this season. They have been on par with the likes of title favourites Manchester City and Liverpool and if they build on their current momentum, they could be in with a chance of winning the league this season – but do they have the strikers necessary to fire them to success?
Eden Hazard has been the driving force of the Blues this term so far. While the club has been solid in most departments, the problem area, as it has been for some time, is in the forwards. Chelsea’s strength, or lack thereof, up front, could be a key factor in determining whether they enjoy success this season or not.
Alvaro Morata has once again failed to inspire with a goalscoring return far below expectations. Second-choice Olivier Giroud has a lot to offer, as he has notched a number of assists to date, but he has yet to find the net and is not a prolific scorer who can be relied on to lead a club to a title.
Mauro Icardi has been long-linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and would be an ideal replacement for the struggling Morata. However, the 25-year-old could be difficult to prise away from Inter in January considering their aims of Serie A glory his season and also, his current contract is set to expire in 2021 so the Italian giants will be in no rush to sell.
Below are two strikers Maurizio Sarri should consider signing in January if things do not improve in the near future.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The January transfer window is generally a difficult time to recruit top talents. One player who could be available on loan is the legendary Ibrahimovic, who is currently on the books of MLS club LA Galaxy. The MLS season is set to end in October, with the 2019 season starting in March. This means that Ibrahimovic may be available temporarily until then.
The Sweden international may now be 37 years old but he still does have ruthless finishing ability as well as the ability to score goals. Since joining the Galaxy, he has managed 22 goals from 26 games and has also contributed six assists.
2. Timo Werner
The 22-year-old Werner is bound to leave RB Leipzig in the near future. He is likely to get better with age and could become one of the best strikers in the world over the course of the next few years. The German is a proven scorer at the highest level, having scored 21 goals in all competitions during each of the past two seasons. He has managed four goals in the Bundesliga so far this season.
