Chelsea should pursue a striker this summer, but how much they need one depends on whether they keep Olivier Giroud. If Giroud leaves, some surprise options should be on the table.
While the emergence of Tammy Abraham has helped the striker situation at Chelsea, it still isn’t perfect. The priority of a new striker fluctuates between medium to high as it hinges on Olivier Giroud’s contract renewal.
Rate him or don’t, Giroud is a World Cup champion and a proven Premier League marksman. He has a particular set of skills that elevate the attackers around him to go with his invaluable experience. Frank Lampard finally using him is a great sign for a top professional who could continue to nurture Abraham.
Scenario A: Giroud stays; New striker priority – medium
In Abraham and Giroud, Chelsea will have the perfect balance of young and old. Should Lampard want more firepower, it would make sense to find a financially prudent deal.
Moussa Dembele has been prolific the past few years, smartly continuing his development in England, Scotland and France. His current ability and potential make him a highly intriguing addition, with his home-grown status an added bonus.
Raul Jimenez, on the other hand, has been excellent in the Premier League over the last couple of years. He has a playing style quite similar to Diego Costa’s: deceptively skillful with plenty of grit. He is at the prime of his career and could score plenty of important goals for Chelsea while Abraham develops a clinical edge to his game.
Both could be great additions to the striker department for the right amount of money.
Scenario B: Giroud leaves; New striker priority – high
Should Olivier Giroud leave in the summer, the club would have to be more inclined to spend money, not on a backup, but rather a challenger for Abraham for the starting striker role. After Alvaro Morata and Fernando Torres, the board would need a great deal of convincing to go down that road again. It all depends on the player targeted.
That effectively rules out Lautaro Martinez. While he is a great talent who has had a good season and could well be the “next Sergio Aguero,” it is unthinkable to spend £100 million on a player who has had just one good season. Factor in the strong interest from Barcelona and Manchester City, and that price could only increase. Hard pass.
Timo Werner has consistently proved that he is the next great German striker and would undoubtedly be a great player for Chelsea, but his heart could be well set to join countryman Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Chelsea should push hard for Werner, but the likelihood of him joining at this juncture seems low.
That brings us to the most controversial part of this piece: Harry Kane.
“Harry Kane? You mean Chelsea-hating, Spurs captain Harry Kane? Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s talisman Harry Kane? Impossible negotiator, mis(t)er Daniel Levy’s star boy Harry Kane?”
Yes, Harry Kane.
Tottenham’s furlough debacle hinted at some underlying financial issues that only would be complicated should the season be prematurely ended. With added financial restrictions, it is entirely plausible that Spurs go another window with no signings and plenty of contract disputes over wages. Jose Mourinho would not be one to shy away from any of it, and would instead publicly moan and complain about the situation, aggravating a highly negative atmosphere.
Harry Kane recently explained that he would leave the club should there be a lack of ambition. Any situation resembling the above would push him to seriously consider an exit. There would be a lot of ifs and buts, but should the exit door open even a little bit, Chelsea must go all guns blazing to secure him.
Any deal will be expensive, but not a £100 million deal considering the financial desperation Spurs would be in and the pressure of a potential transfer request. That makes it financially feasible to agree such a deal, even if Chelsea has to go toe to toe with United for it.
Kane is not potentially world-class – he is world-class. It is extremely rare for a player of his ilk to be available for less than a record fee and if Chelsea must incentivise him the way Manchester United will, the club absolutely should do it.
Some sections of the fanbase will fear this will block Tammy Abraham, but that is hardly the case. Competition improves players. Didier Drogba outlasted Andriy Shevchenko, Nicholas Anelka and Fernando Torres time and again to retain his starting striker berth. That’s what it takes to lead the line at Chelsea.
If anything, this will truly measure Abraham’s worth and whether he can, in fact, be Chelsea’s long term, undisputed No. 9. Should Kane permanently bench Abraham, it would be the right decision to sign him. Should Abraham outlast Kane, he will have truly become this generation’s Drogba.
And just imagine the prospect of Harry Kane scoring a stoppage-time penalty at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium to make Chelsea Premier League champions. A win-win-win.
Note: Every scenario automatically assumes Michy Batshuayi’s departure. Sorry Batsman, it’s time to go.