Chelsea transfer news: The Blues will be after a top-level striker in the summer and could turn to someone that would work wonders under Mauricio Pochettino.
Mauricio Pochettino needs a new striker at Chelsea. (Image: Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Chelsea have the perfect way to complete the signing of Mauricio Pochettino’s Harry Kane alternative. The chances of the all-time Tottenham goalscorer moving across London appear slim but appointing Pochettino would surely only strengthen those faint hopes.
It is not something for the Argentine or the Blues’ new owners to rely on heading into the new season, though. Despite Spurs’ own disappointing season and the prospect of not having European football as well, Daniel Levy would be hard-pressed to be much more unpopular already, selling Kane would only make that worse.
Plus, the price of Kane, even with just over one year left on his contract, would be astronomical and likely to rival the current league record of £106.8m that Chelsea set in January when buying Enzo Fernandez from Benfica. There isn’t much going for this deal at all.
However, Chelsea and Pochettino will need a new striker in the summer even with the incoming Christopher Nkunku. Should Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave the club in the mass exodus – or even just one of them – then a new name will be required.
Armando Broja remains an exciting prospect but he is fighting back from a long-term injury and has just nine league goals to his name. Pochettino is known for his development of young players but asking the 21-year-old to lead the line consistently would be a gamble.
When it comes to potential options, Victor Osimhen is in the conversation but would demand a fee of near £100m himself and will be after Champions League football too. One player they have first chance at buying is Tammy Abraham.
The 25-year-old is in the middle of his second-worst scoring season to date but popped up with a key goal against AC Milan for Roma and Jose Mourinho on Saturday night. The strike, which came in extra-time, was typical of Abraham at his best.
The Englishman took a sharp first touch to out-fox former Chelsea teammate Fikayo Tomori before creating room to finish past Mike Maignan. It was only his eighth of the season but it was also the most important. During what has been a tough season, Abraham came up with the goods when it mattered.
He has a Europa League semi-final to look forward to but, should Chelsea wish to take the gamble, could also be the centre of transfer attention in the summer. There is a €80m (£67.3m) buyback clause in his contract that becomes active this summer. They only sold him for £34m in 2021, it would work out as a net buy of £33.3m.
With 17 league goals in Serie A last season and 15 in his first full year as a Premier League striker Abraham is a natural goalscorer that could thrive under Pochettino and he has already opened up on his future, not ruling out a return.
Speaking to FourFourTwo earlier this year Abraham said: Would I go back there? In football, you can never say never. Right now, my focus is here at Roma – we want to finish the season strongly.”
He added: “I haven’t started thinking about anything yet, apart from being here and doing my best. I wouldn’t say there’s unfinished business in England – I’m in no rush. Football has no location, it could be anywhere. Maybe I stay at Roma for the next decade, maybe I don’t. You never know what’s around the corner.”
As for the speculation linking him with a move away, “It’s never annoying – as a player, to hear that teams want you is always motivating,” he said.
“It means that you’re clearly doing something right and you have interest around the world. You use that as motivation, instead of finding it annoying. It’s nice to know that teams are interested in me.”
For a player that isn’t on top form it may be seen as a risk for Chelsea but in 2019/20 he only finished three goals behind Kane in the scoring charts. That was without taking penalties too. Add in assists and minutes played and his goal contributions per game were higher than Kane.
If Pochettino needs a player to take under his wing, Chelsea certainly know where to look.
Source: football.london
