Chelsea have been linked with transfer moves for strikers this summer almost since last summer. But two of their top targets look further away than ever.
We heard yesterday that Victor Osimhen is simply going to be too expensive to sign, while Arsenal are apparently closing in on Benjamin Sesko, the young RB Leipzig forward.
“Yes I think [Sesko] is one of the top targets of Arsenal. Not only Arsenal, but of AC Milan over in Italy. I think Arsenal will go for a striker,” transfer insider Gianluca di Marzio said in quotes picked up by TeamTalk.
“Even Victor Osimhen could be a target, because Arsenal needs a striker like that, a real number nine. So we will see if Sesko or Osimhen, but I think Arsenal will be in for one of these two important strikers in the summer.”
A dilemma over what to do up top
While Nicolas Jackson really grew into his role last season and ended up with a respectable number of goals and assists, we can’t get lulled into a false sense of security. Other options are needed – for all his qualities, Jackson is never going to be a natural goalscorer, and it’s important to add goals to this squad in general.
The Senegal star also racked up a lot of games without respite last season – we can’t rely on him being that durable forever. Imagine if he’d picked up a serious injury midway through our last campaign? We’d have been in serious trouble.
The question is how to go about finding a player to support him. Do we break the bank on someone better, who will expect to play every week? Or do we find a raw talent in a similar way to how we grabbed the 22 year old from Villareal last summer by activating his clause?
We may not need a new striker this season. Arteta should endeavour to revisit Nketiah’s case and get a formula that suits this England U21 record goal scorer. Against Sheffield United he scored a hat trick under 60 minutes, Smith Rowe was at the attacking midfield while Martinelli provided speed from the left flank. Zinchenko provided skills from left full back while Martinelli always fall back to assist in defending. This formula also means that Saka will be on the right; just one of Havertz or Odegaard will start in central midfield and also one of Rice or Partey starting in the defensive midfield. Then our normal defence line. Nketiah will certainly fight Haaland as top striker if Arteta goes back to this formula.
Secondly, we have a young striker in Chido Obi Martins who will rule the world in no distance time.
So what we basically need now is a right footed world class central defender like 85m pounds rated Araujo of Barcalona, to rotate with Saliba and Magalhaes and a super creative attacking midfielder like Argentine leading U23 assist provider , Thiago Ezequiel Almada, who 30m pounds can get from his US club, to rotate with Smith Rowe. Thats all. Tierney can come back to rotate with Zinchenko.