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Four solutions for Chelsea at the striker position in a 3-4-3

By Gabe Henderson

Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner (R) celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with Chelsea's English striker Tammy Abraham (L) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge in London on November 7, 2020. - Chelsea won the game 4-1. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner (R) celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with Chelsea's English striker Tammy Abraham (L) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge in London on November 7, 2020. - Chelsea won the game 4-1. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s German striker Timo Werner (R) celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham (L) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge in London on November 7, 2020. – Chelsea won the game 4-1. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s German striker Timo Werner (R) celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with Chelsea’s English striker Tammy Abraham (L) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge in London on November 7, 2020. – Chelsea won the game 4-1. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. The current roster

Whereas looking to the loan army seemed unlikely because none of those No. 9s are particularly ready to lead the line for Chelsea, the options available to Tuchel on the current roster don’t look to be enough for an entirely different reason. For the sake of the article, it’s assumed Giroud is already gone as his transfer is all but official at this point in time. That leaves Timo Werner and Abraham as the Blues’ only realistic options up top.

The former has shown that he struggles to play the center forward role alone in the Premier League. Deploying Werner as a lone No. 9 works against some sides, but he is largely incapable of dealing with the size and strength of central defenders in England’s top flight. The German thrived at RB Leipzig as a part of a two-man striking system under Julian Nagelsmann. Frank Lampard and Tuchel have left no stone unturned in the Premier League as they tried to get him firing as the Blues’ lone striker, but things simply never worked out. It’s for this reason that many believe he is better when playing out wide.

Werner’s debut season with Chelsea has largely been dubbed a failure by football fans across the world. Those who watched him know that even though he struggled, he was still integral to the UCL-winning attack. The 24-year-old tallied 27 goal contributions, a figure that was easily the highest on the team. Werner can play as a striker, but it seems as if the club wants to go in a different direction for that position next season.

The one individual who has looked capable of leading the line on his own is Abraham. The young striker started his senior Chelsea career off firing on all cylinders under Lampard. An injury and a run of bad form saw him take a step back during Project Restart, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary for a young forward. Abraham is one of the Blues’ most talented attacking pieces. That said, even when they were struggling to score goals as the campaign drew to a close, Tuchel simply didn’t turn to Abraham to help solve the issue. Only a handful of people know what the issue between the two is, although it seems purely tactical as they’ve shown no signs of a fractured personal relationship. Regardless, Abraham cannot get on the pitch right now.

A full preseason could change this as he’s already at Cobham working with Tuchel before the rest of the team arrives for training. There are still rumors linking him to a move away though, which is something the gaffer has to keep in the back of his mind.

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