5 Michael Olise alternatives who Chelsea could pursue

#3. Brennan Johnson

In direct response to the failed Olise move, Chelsea have already turned their attention to another player. It was reported Thursday afternoon that the Blues have already started the beginning stages of negotiations with Nottingham Forest for forward Brennan Johnson.

In order to secure the services of the Welsh attacker, Chelsea will need to be prepared to pay up, once again. Forest have already shot down a bid from Brentford in the region of £40 million, and the club values Johnson at £50 million. After other sales go through, this won’t be a problem for the board, but are they convinced the 22 year old is what they need?

Johnson is coming off of a 2022-23 season where he produced the lowest goal contribution total of his career, scoring eight goals and just three assists across 33 starts. The expectation for him was definitely higher on the heels of a 16-goal, 10-assist 2021-22 campaign, but the step up from the Championship to the Premier League is likely what tripped Johnson up. He overperformed his xG and xA in the Championship, and underperformed it in the Premier League. Obviously, the lack of production in a top league is going to be a focal point in discussions between Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, and Joe Shields.

The Welsh forward is adept at dropping to receive the ball and then driving it forward himself, but it’s unclear how exactly he would even fit Pochettino’s plans. Johnson’s skillset benefits Chelsea in the short-term, but the investment carries a ton of risk in the long-term.