Possible striker options for Chelsea as the offseason begins

Silly season begins for the Premier League on June 9 and run through August 31 this summer. While the Euros are ongoing, action for Chelsea may be slowed to a trickle as major clubs watch their potential acquisitions and how they perform amongst the best of Europe. That competition will begin on Friday and run for exactly a month, when the final will be played. After July 11, there will likely be more activity as clubs from around Europe and elsewhere seek to bolster their sides before the beginning of the next league seasons in August.

Chelsea, having won the Champions League, will almost certainly be among the participants in bidding for stars—or maybe even mega-stars—this summer. Armed with a contract extension, manager Thomas Tuchel will likely be seeking to strengthen a squad. The Blues won the biggest prize in Europe, but finished a distant fourth in the Premier League to Manchester City, who they took down to win that aforementioned Champions League trophy.

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Yet, with that trophy in the team’s figurative back pocket (not literally, of course, it’s a massive piece of silverware), Tuchel is now setting his sights on England’s three prizes, as well as another run at the UCL. Tuchel’s eyes are on improving his side and one way to do that is bringing in an established No. 9. Therefore, let’s take a look at a few striker options that could be available to the Blues this summer.

Chelsea needs a striker, but who could the Blues target this summer?

To be honest, nobody really knows whether or not the Blues will move for a No. 9 this summer. However, there have been signs evidenced by Tuchel’s team selections since January that may provide clues as to where he and the team’s management may go to reinforce a side that spent big (over £200 million last summer) with mixed results to-date. No matter, that squad took home Europe’s biggest club prize.

Tuchel’s exile of Tammy Abraham seems indicative of his feeling that Abraham does not seem to have a place in his team. As bad an idea as that may seem, it almost looks to be a foregone conclusion. If Abraham is sold, a buyback clause is imperative and if he is loaned out, a no-buy provision is an absolute necessity. That, eventuality added to the possible departure of Olivier Giroud (his contract extension notwithstanding), Chelsea could be left with a possible dearth of strikers next season. Of course, this depends on who one considers a striker or not.

While Timo Werner is best slotted in there and Kai Havertz can also play in a false No. 9 role, there will still be a need for one additional striker at least in this transfer window. Speculation abounds about a move for Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund or even a fantasy land possibility that Harry Kane will be made available to Chelsea. While the Haaland situation may have been enhanced by the Champions League win perhaps, the fee will be exorbitant.

Chelsea must determine if Haaland is a generational talent worth whatever he may cost or not. Kane, however, is not a likely acquisition since Tottenham seems unlikely to ever accommodate a desire by Chelsea to buy one of its players, not to mention its best. The sting perhaps of the Willian last-minute swoop seems still to be festering at Spurs. The Luka Modric saga several years ago demonstrates that even when the player had submitted a transfer request, he was refused a move to Chelsea, seemingly at any price.

Absent these two superstars, and Romelu Lukaku—who indicated he will stay at Inter Milan—who might be an alternative? It has been suggested in this space previously that Danny Ings of Southampton, who’d be entering his age 29 season, would be just fine as a less-expensive and Premier League-proven scoring threat. That viewpoint has not changed one iota. Ings only lacks the supporting cast to possibly once again explode as a top Premier League scorer, as his 12 goals in 29 appearances last season would have led Chelsea in the Premier League by far. Meanwhile, his production in 2018/19 was top notch as he bagged an impressive 22 goals for the Saints.

Another striker who may fit the bill, yet would be more costly, could be Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton. He bagged 16 goals in 33 appearances for the Toffees and he’s still only 24 years old. He may be another striker who armed with Chelsea’s supporting cast could explode with a 20+ goal season for the Blues. He’s a real goal-scoring threat and he would also fit nicely if the Blues decide to go with less than a monumentally costly acquisition this summer. Also, with the departure of manager Carlo Ancelotti for Real Madrid, perhaps the club may be looking to amass funds for its new manager and allow him to build his own squad. Thus, while remote, some possibility for a sale may exist there.

Each of those represents a possible striker who could be solid a solid addition to the squad for the 2021/22 campaign. Stating the obvious, Kane would be an absolute masterclass acquisition if he was available, but unfortunately, he likely won’t be. He’d instantly transform Chelsea from a fourth-place team to an immediate contender for the Premier League title.

Haaland is a bit more of a wild card because of his not having Premier League experience. Yet, wherever he goes, he seems to score a goal a game. If he is available, without question, go for him. Much like Kane’s situation, at any price. Chelsea has already offloaded seven players and there could be many more who still can be sold to help lighten the burden of acquiring a mega-striker. Just sell them for whatever can be amassed and move on from these players who either don’t fit now, never did or never will.

The other two strikers, Ings and Calvert-Lewin, are very good Premier League tested strikers.  Absent a move for the top two, either would be a solid addition. Other potential options exist and/or will almost certainly emerge out of the Euro 2021 competition, so a revisit to this issue may be in order after the competition is completed.

Who do you think would be a good addition to help open the scoring floodgates and stymie the “goal-line ghost” who last season kept Chelsea from tallying the goals it should have? We’d like to hear your thoughts on who you think might fit.