Chelsea: Gonzalo Higuain rumours – like Higuain – not improving with age

Chelsea is still shopping the transfer market to replace Alvaro Morata. While Chelsea need a solution as soon as possible, the situation will only be more dire with Gonzalo Higuain at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have not been convincing in the past few months. Maurizio Sarri’s system started out as fast passing, high pressing and attractive football. But now, everything is falling apart and the Blues have had to resort to a basic and mundane style of football. No rhythm on the ball, no movement off it, and poor defensive tactics to defend any lead. A few factors play into this: players not following their instructions, oppositions figuring out Sarrismo and Sarri not being willing to adjust and, ultimately, Chelsea’s inability to score goals.

Since the transfer window is now open, the most immediate problem to solve is the striker issue. Alvaro Morata is not scoring the necessary goals when the team needs him. And even when he does, he is still criticized for the chances he missed. This does not help the team anymore than it helps his confidence.

Therefore, the Chelsea board has decided – like they did last summer – to back their head coach and bring his desired striker. But this time, they and Sarri are going about it all wrong by trying to sign Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain used to be a deadly striker for Real Madrid, Napoli and Juventus. He was a front man who could act as both a strong No. 9, as well as player who could work the defensive line.

However, that was then. The Argentine is not the player he used to be. Now at 31 years of age, Higuain has only scored six goals during his loan at AC Milan and his performances are not getting any better.

If that wasn’t convincing enough he plays in Serie A, which, with all due respect, is not nearly as competitive as the Premier League. Demanding a player of that age to adapt and flourish to Sarri’s system and the league is wishful thinking at its best.

Furthermore, the logic behind “Higuain played for Sarri before and knows his system” is completely flawed and is a major factor why this move will lead to failure. While Higuain’s days under Sarri were fruitful, they were four years ago. Expecting a 31-year old to perform at the same level as he did in his prime, not to mention to remember the tactics and execute them to perfection, is simply unreasonable.

One perfect example was the expectations of Fernando Torres and Rafael Benitez. While everyone was expecting Torres to perform as the famous El Nino from Liverpool just because he was working with Benitez, all Chelsea got was the same inconsistent Torres.

Last, if Chelsea do sign Higuain, it will most likely be on loan for the remainder of the season, only giving el pipita less than six months to adapt and score as many goals as possible. On the off chance he manages to make an impact and secure crucial points for the Chelsea during that time, he would only get a one-year contract. That would leave Chelsea once again with a forward who is over 30 and will be more likely to leave the club the following season.

The inconsistency of a solid front man is the root cause of many of Chelsea’s problems. The club will be falling into the never-ending circle of mediocrity and even failure.

Instead of conservatively spending money or attempting to please a head coach, the Blues need someone in their prime who wins games and brings the necessary energy to the front line. The team cannot afford to have two strikers on the bench who are over 30, while at the same time playing Eden Hazard as false-nine in important games or simply because the strikers are fatigued.

Chelsea must find an answer during this transfer window and they must do it efficiently. Singing Gonzalo Higuain to simply “test the waters” will be a disastrous move and the board, as well as Sarri, must avoid that rut.

Even if it means paying £90 million for someone like Mauro Icardi, Chelsea must build consistency and strength, not try to patch an open-heart surgery with a 30-year old Band-Aid.