Chelsea's search for a consistent striker goes on ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Despite a promising start to life from Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea will need a lot more firepower if they are to push back into the Champions League places, so here is three strikers the Blues should look at ahead of the new season.
Age: 25
Value: €100m (Transfermarkt)
Current club: Napoli
Current Nigeria and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been heavily linked with a switch to London for well over a year now, but to whom it is unclear as of yet.
Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal reportedly hold an interest in Osimhen, as they look to rectify scoring problems of their own as they prepare to once again challenge for the Premier League title.
While Arsenal have an advantage to offer Osimhen on the pitch and being much more prepared to challenge for titles, Chelsea hold an advantage in the fact Osimhen grew up idolising Didier Drogba.
The 25-year-old began his senior career at Wolfsburg, before making a loan switch to Sporting Charleroi in 2018/19, scoring 20 times before again switching, this time permanently to Lille in France.
He missed out on Lille's Ligue 1 title by a year, but was right in the thick of it for Napoli in 2022/23 as they stormed to the Serie A title.
His 17 goals last season is a downgrade from the 31 the season prior, but is still nothing to be frowned upon. The former Wolfsburg and Lille man ranks amongst the top 10% of strikers in Europe for touches in the attacking penalty area (6.82) and shots per 90 (3.73), alongside putting up 0.51 non-penalty xG per 90.
Osimhen has scored 76 times in 133 games for Napoli, and with a proven track record of scoring goals would be a fantastic option for Enzo Maresca as he prepares for a new chapter at Stamford Bridge.
Age: 24
Value: €90m (Transfermarkt)
Current club: Manchester City
A man who already has proven ability in the Premier League that could be available this summer is Manchester City's Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez had been given the seemingly impossible task of displacing Erling Haaland at the Etihad, but as that simply will not happen, Pep Guardiola had to shift the talent Argentine out wide for most of last season.
A product of River Plate, the 24-year-old has won almost everything you can win so far, including the World Cup, Champions League and the Premier League.
Last season, Alvarez scored 19 times and provided a further 13 assists for the Champions, hitting double digits for goals every season since 2021. Compared to wingers, Alvarez ranks in the top 10% for non-penalty xG (0.41), non-penalty goals (0.43) and shots per 90 (3.41).
However, what the World Cup winner offers Maresca that Osimhen does not is that little bit more output for those around him. His 13 assists is paired with 0.31 assists per 90, ranking him in the top 15% of wingers in Europe's top five leagues.
Cole Palmer has already shown to the world how effective the switch from City to Chelsea can be, and with Julian Alvarez likely to be offered to play as a striker, rather than a winger, the move could tempt the Argentine.
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Jonathan David
Age: 24
Value: €50m (Transfermarkt)
Current club: Lille
David being valued at just €50m could tempt Todd Boehly into a move as Chelsea look to be a little tighter on the purse strings. Even at €50m, David is no slouch, having scored 26 goals in both of the last two seasons for French side Lille.
The Canadian also scored at Copa America for Canada, but his single goal was not enough to help Jesse Marsch's side in the latter stages of the tournament, as they finished 4th in the competition.
After starting his career at Gent, David moved to France in 2020, and scored 13 times as Lille ousted PSG to win the Ligue 1 title in 2020/21. Les Dogues have failed to replicate such form in the three seasons since, but David has continued to impress for Lille.
The 24-year-old's 0.58 non-penalty goals ranks him in the top 17% of strikers in Europe's top five leagues, and his 0.51 non-penalty xG ranks him equally in the top 17%. His standout asset last season was his pass completion, with 82% ranking him within the top 3% of strikers in Europe last season.
Don't get it wrong, €50m is not exactly a bargain, but in today's market, Boehly & Co could do a lot worse than Jonathan David for that price.
