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Chelsea: Five attackers the Blues could target in January

By Mike Malley

KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Chelsea FC fans arrive at the stadium prior to the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Chelsea Women and West Ham United Women at Kingsmeadow on December 06, 2020 in Kingston upon Thames, England. A limited number of fans are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Chelsea FC fans arrive at the stadium prior to the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Chelsea Women and West Ham United Women at Kingsmeadow on December 06, 2020 in Kingston upon Thames, England. A limited number of fans are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Tallis/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea FC at Selhurst Park on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Tallis/Pool via Getty Images) /

3. Wilfried Zaha

Like Sancho, Wilfried Zaha has been the subject of intense transfer speculation during the past few windows. The Crystal Palace star has always been on the verge of joining one of the big six, and January would be the perfect time for him to finally make a move.

Zaha has gotten off to a tremendous start this season, scoring eight goals and adding two assists in 14 appearances for the Eagles. As usual, though, Palace are sitting near the bottom of the Premier League table, despite Zaha’s best efforts. He has simply grown too big for the club, and needs to find a new home where his talent can reach its full potential.

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All fans of the Premier League, even those who support Palace’s rivals, like Chelsea, must acknowledge Zaha’s greatness. His technical ability with the ball is rivaled by few other forwards in the English top flight, and his ability to turn on the jets and outpace defenders anywhere on the pitch makes him especially dangerous. Zaha’s versatility would also make him a huge asset to the Blues, as he can be plugged into the lineup as a lone striker, on the wings, or as a CAM and still be productive.

The main reason that Zaha should be one of Chelsea’s top attacking targets is his proven track record of success in the Premier League. All of Chelsea’s summer transfers came from foreign leagues, and many have admitted to struggling to adapt to the high speed and intensity of the EPL. This will not be a concern for Zaha, who has consistently been one of the most potent forwards in England, despite the fact that his teammates’ talent levels have never been close to matching his own. With other world class players around him, Zaha would surely take a huge step forward in his own development.

The biggest question for Chelsea in regards to Zaha will be how much the club is willing to spend on the 28-year-old. Palace will likely demand at least £50 million for the Ivory Coast international, and might try to upcharge the Blues due to the teams’ rivalry. This is obviously significantly less than Chelsea would have to pay for Haaland or Sancho, so Zaha would certainly be the best of the cut-price options. If Abramovic feels the need to add another playmaker to the Blues’ already stacked forward line, making a move for Zaha should be at the top of his to-do list.

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