Chelsea must find a way to clear the log jam in the striker position
By Travis Tyler
Chelsea have a multitude of good or up and coming strikers. That is a good problem to have but the Blues will have to clear that log jam for next season.
Chelsea are suddenly blessed with a high number of good, promising, and up and coming strikers. This is a good problem for any team to have but it makes it difficult to build a roster that gets the most out of every player.
That log jam up top can be deceptively dangerous. It could keep a good striker from having much playing time, instigating their departure from the club. It could stunt a young players development by dropping their playing time. Someone has to be the backup and someone has to be the backup’s backup. No one wants to be either and Chelsea have to be careful with how they deal with the issue.
Chelsea could potentially use two or only one striker next season. That changes the dynamics a bit but not a great deal. Chelsea could keep any of Alvaro Morata, Olivier Giroud, Michy Batshuayi, Tammy Abraham or even Martell Taylor-Crossdale. They could also add to that roster over the summer.
On paper, Morata will remain the first choice. Many want to compare him to Diego Costa (who had a better debut season) or Fernando Torres (implying that he is a flop). A more accurate comparison is potentially Didier Drogba, assuming Morata settles in next season. He has shown flashes of promise but also losses of concentration.
Morata has been linked to returns at both Juventus and Real Madrid. Both are incredibly unlikely for various reasons but if they come to pass, that frees Chelsea up for the pursuit of a new striker.
Or it could lead to Michy Batshuayi having a pathway to the starting lineup. He is currently out injured, but built up strong momentum at Dortmund. In fact, Dortmund would be willing to purchase the Belgian assuming they can meet Chelsea’s asking price. But Morata being gone would certainly change the calculus.
Then there is Giroud who is perhaps the only striker guaranteed to be at Chelsea next season. He is an extremely capable backup who can also challenge for the starting role. And with only a year on his contract, he is likely to stay around. He could stay longer than that but allowing him to depart could open up a rotation and bench option for others.
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After that the club begins to dip into the youth. Tammy Abraham has spent the season on loan at Swansea. Unfortunately, Swansea had the creativity of a brick under Paul Clement. Abraham has only been a rotation option under Carlos Carvalhal. He is at least a Premier League caliber striker but needs the right platform to show it.
It could be possible to keep him as a third choice striker, but the Blues would have to weigh that against his development. He needs to be playing and unless the Blues hierarchy honestly believes he is capable of cracking into the squad, he should be sent on loan for at least another season. After that, he could potentially take Batshuayi’s or Giroud’s spot in the roster.
Perhaps a better choice for a young, third choice striker is Taylor-Crossdale. He will have interest from lower level clubs but it could be beneficial to have him train with the first team for a full season. Of course, he is already doing plenty of that now and keeping him could stunt his growth in the same way that it could Abraham.
Who stays and who goes will also come down to the formation next season. If the formation next season only needs one striker, then having three on the roster will be plenty. If the formation requires two strikers, four would be needed at the very least. Some players such as Eden Hazard (if he stays) can fill in as depth options when absolutely needed.
As things stand, Chelsea are unlikely to take on another striker. The only possibility of that happening is if Morata is sold. That makes the most likely solution to the log jam somewhat visible.
In a one striker formation, Morata will remain first choice. Giroud will likely stay on as the back up with Batshuayi either being sold or sent on loan. Abraham will likely be loaned again with Taylor-Crossdale remaining as the third choice.
With two strikers, Morata and Batshuayi will probably be the go to pair. Giroud will be the backup who will swap with Batshuayi frequently. Then one of Abraham or Taylor-Crossdale will remain with the other going on loan.
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Again, this is a good problem to have. And Chelsea do have ways to clear it if need be. But they will want to do what is best for the club and the players involved.