According to reports in Italy, Chelsea are monitoring 25-year-old Colombian forward Luis Muriel as Antonio Conte looks to bolster his attacking ranks in the upcoming January transfer window.
The Blues have recently been heavily relying on Diego Costa’s crucial performances, who is currently the league’s joint top scorer with 10 goals to his name. Costa’s back-up striker Michy Batshuayi is yet to make a Premier League start for the club after signing from Olympique de Marseille this summer, as the Spaniard’s tremendous form has kept the Belgian as a surplus to requirements.
Conte is stressed about Costa’s resistance, as injury problems and suspensions have also been a problem before. Costa is currently one booking away from a one-match ban, and once he gets it, there’s no one to cover Batshuayi from the bench.
Chelsea are short in attacking options with just Costa and Batshuayi available, and Italian newspaper Calcio Mercato is therefore linking the West London club to a move for Luis Muriel.
The 25-year-old forward is a well-known player in the Italian top-flight, where he has scored six goals in 12 appearances this season – which is very well for a defensive-minded league in a mid-table club like Sampdoria.
