Chelsea need to sign a striker this summer. That has been pretty clear from Nicolas Jackson's uninspiring performances this season. Early on in the campaign, it had looked like he had taken a step forward but since then, his performance levels have gone down significantly, and the recent red card against Newcastle United has also shifted some focus on his discipline issues.
Overall, Jackson does not look like someone who can be Chelsea's first-choice striker. There is a lot to like about his game, especially in the build-up play. But finishing let's him down constantly, as does his knack for picking up cards constantly.
Chelsea have been linked with plenty of strikers recently. But who are they most likely to sign this summer?
That is the question that Nizaar Kinsella of BBC Sport was asked recently. He ended up naming Liam Delap, as the journalist said:
"If I were to hazard a guess then I would say Ipswich striker Liam Delap is the most likely, given the connection key recruiter Joe Shields has to the player. His £30m release clause will also be seen as an opportunity by those at Stamford Bridge."
£30m striker named Chelsea's most likely signing this summer
Of course, that does not mean that other options are not available to the Blues, as Kinsella was quick to point out. But considering the club's transfer strategy, the Ipswich Town striker does seem to tick the most number of boxes.
He would not be a headline-grabbing signing, that is for sure. But he could very well be someone who develops into Chelsea's first-choice number 9, something that Jackson has struggled to do over his two seasons at Stamford Bridge.
That being said, other names are in the mix as well. Benjamin Sesko is another striker that might interest Chelsea. On the other hand, they are less likely to sign names like Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen, even though most fans would prefer them over someone like Delap.
Names like Hugo Ekitike and Jonathan David could be in the mix as well. Two strikers who have been linked with Chelsea in the past and recently as well. Let's see what happens.