Chelsea: Five attackers the Blues could target in January

The January window is now open and Chelsea could do with some fresh blood. Who are five attackers the Blues could target this month?

Having spent around £250 million over the summer to revamp the team’s front line, Chelsea probably doesn’t need to buy any forwards in the January. There is more than enough attacking talent in the squad, despite the Blues’ current poor run of form.

However, in a league with transfer-obsessed managers such as Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, Roman Abramovic is constantly forced to spend wildly if Chelsea are going to compete for the league title. For this reason, it will not be a surprise if the team makes moves in the upcoming transfer window.

If the Blues do decide to purchase new forwards, the budget will likely be pretty tight. It would be shocking if Abramovic were to shell out more than £50 million, unless a truly generational talent is made available. One thing is for certain, though; any new recruits to Stamford Bridge will be under immense pressure from the day they arrive. The fanbase has shown its collective impatience with the summer signings who have failed to perform, so any potential newcomers can expect a similar treatment. Here are five attackers Chelsea should target in January:

Erling Haaland

It should come as no surprise to see Haaland’s name at the top of this list, as nearly every top European club wants a piece of the Norwegian wonderkid. After bursting onto the scene with RB Salzburg in last year’s Champions League, Haaland has gone on to become one of the most lethal hitmen on the continent, and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Since moving to Borussia Dortmund from Salzburg last January, Haaland has scored 33 goals in 32 matches, an incredible record for such a young player. He has become the focal point of Dortmund’s attack, forming great relationships with all of his teammates, specifically Jadon Sancho last season and Gio Reyna to begin the current campaign. The fact that Dortmund currently sits fifth in the Bundesliga table has very little to do with Haaland’s play, as he has actually been one of the few bright spots for BVB.

Haaland is the definition of a complete striker. He has a rare mix of size, speed, and skill that few other 20-year-olds possess. His most valuable trait, however, is his absolutely clinical finishing ability. There is no one-on-one opportunity that Haaland will not score from, regardless of which goalkeeper is between the sticks. Haaland has also already proven that he is not afraid of the big moment, exemplified by his brace against PSG in last year’s UCL Round-of-16 tie.

Bringing Haaland to Chelsea would undoubtedly be difficult, as the Blues would certainly have to splash the cash to secure his signature, which Abramovic might be unlikely to do after spending so much in the summer. His price in a normal year would easily eclipse £100 million, but Haaland might be available for slightly less because of the financial difficulties brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. Marina Granovskaia would certainly have her work cut out for her should Chelsea make a move.

Looking at how Haaland would fit into Chelsea’s squad, his arrival would likely mean the end for either Tammy Abraham or Olivier Giroud. Haaland is a classic no. 9 with little room for versatility in terms of his positioning. However, Timo Werner would welcome Haaland to the club with open arms, as the German international spent much of his time at RB Leipzig playing in a striker pairing with Danish target man Yussuf Poulsen. The duo of Haaland and Werner with any combination of Chelsea’s wingers would strike fear into the hearts of opposing Premier League defenses.