Chelsea has a striker issue and the first targets are appearing in the media. But the targets of Krzysztof Piatek and Mauro Icardi are unrealistic.
Combined, Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud have yet to contribute to 10 goals. One can score, the other can assist, but a club like Chelsea cannot survive off such measly returns from the men up top.
So it is natural that the club is looking for a solution. Neither Morata nor Giroud seem to be turning things around and the Blues need a class striker up top to have any hope of competing with Manchester City long term. Enter rumors about Mauro Icardi and Krzysztof Piatek.
On the surface these two make sense as targets. Both are crushing it in Serie A and Serie A players tend to do well no matter where they go so long as they have a manager with Serie A experience. Maurizio Sarri clearly fits that demographic. But both options are also wishful thinking in unique ways.
Individually, both strikers already rival Giroud plus Morata’s goals and assists. These guys know how to score and are from clubs that would likely deem them “available”. A club like Genoa will have a hard time holding on to a player currently leading the league in goals. Inter Milan know that they are running out of leash on which to tie Icardi. He is destined for bigger things and Inter Milan cannot offer that anymore.
Both would cost an arm and a leg. Normally, that would be an issue for Chelsea. But the Blues seem willing to spend for Maurizio Sarri at least in the short term. So while both would likely be pricey, the club could make it happen.
But could, should, and can are not the same. Both these players have major hitches that make them shaky as far as targets go.
Piatek may be leading the league in goals now but that is an uncertainty to last. This is only his first season in one of the big five European leagues. At 23, his prime development years are nearly over and it is hard to say whether he is actually good or just on a great run of form. After all, every single season of Serie A has some young striker tearing the scoring charts up before they fade away. One season striker wonders and Serie A are immortally tied together.
As for Icardi, he is one of football’s only available super strikers. There simply are not enough young strikers coming through for big clubs to take their pick. Instead, Icardi has several suitors including Real Madrid. Chelsea would struggle to compete against Real Madrid one on one for a player in the current state. Icardi knows he has his pick if anyone can buy him, so he would be in no rush to jump over to London.
So both these targets are wishful thinking. Piatek would need to show that he is the real deal and not just running hot. Icardi would need to pick Chelsea over many other clubs. As far as realistic targets go, neither is on solid ground.
Chelsea will need a striker in January if no one can figure it out before then. The market for strikers is small and Chelsea will need to get creative. But a potential one season wonder and a world class super star are not good targets. Chelsea needs to find a good striker they can actually get as well as trust. Until then, the Blues will have to hold out hope that either Morata or Giroud figures out their role.