Chelsea's Striker Dilemma: Top Targets to Propel the Blues to the Summit of European Football

Viktor Gyokeres

Brighton signed Gyokeres as a teenager in 2018 before he moved on to Championship side Coventry in 2021. The Swedish forward bagged 41 league goals in 110 appearances for Coventry before transferring to Sporting in the summer of 2023 on a five-year deal. Gyokeres is taking the Primeira Liga by storm, scoring a whopping 22 goals and providing 10 assists in just 24 league games this season. No wonder the Swede has been on the radar of European giants.

Case for Gyokeres

Chelsea has sent out scouts three times in three months to watch Gyokeres. The pacey and hardworking Swede would be a hot prospect for the Chelsea project at Stamford Bridge under Mauricio Pochettino. One trait that sets him apart from other targets is his ability to play in multiple attacking positions in the forward line. At the age of 25, he is yet to reach his prime and could command a huge transfer fee later. The age profile matches those of previous strikers such as Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, two players who made significant contributions to Chelsea's title push in various seasons.

Reasons to be cautious

Despite his goal-scoring form, Gyokeres has limited experience at the top level of football. He was plying his trade in the English Championship with Coventry in the 2022/2023 season. Prior to this season, he had managed 41 goals in 110 league appearances. The additional weight of expectation at Stamford Bridge may be too heavy for Gyokeres to carry. How he is going to manage the step-up from Sporting to Premiership giants like Chelsea is something to be wary of.

Verdict

With all said and done, no matter who Chelsea finally decided to bring to Stamford bridge in the summer, there are still worries about Financial Fair Play regulations. Whether some players will be offloaded before finalising any deal to avoid sanction is something Chelsea would need to manage carefully.