Chelsea went into this summer knowing that signing a striker was one of their priorities.
But as time has gone by, it’s increasingly looked like they haven’t been at all convinced by their options out there.
Interest in all manner of players – from Jhon Duran to Victor Osimhen – has gone quiet, and there really doesn’t feel like anyone we’re pushing for right now. It feels like every option out there wasn’t quite right, and the sporting directors are now sitting back and waiting for an opportunity.
Playing the waiting game has its costs of course, and one of those is losing out on players as they make their move. Nobody is going to wait around forever. And today we’re got news from top German insider Patrick Berger than one of this summer’s big bargain prizes is off the market already.
He writes that there’s “total agreement” between Borussia Dortmund and Serhou Guirassy, the 28 year old striker who took the Bundesliga by storm last season, firing an impressive Stuttgart outfit into the Champions League.
Dortmund have paid the €18m release clause and have “clarified” the last financial details. It’s a done deal. Sadly, this fun Stuttgart team is getting taken apart pretty quickly by the bigger teams in the division.
Chelsea never close – but another option off the table
In the end, a Chelsea bid never felt that likely. We’re simply not interested in players in that age group. The release clause made it feel possible that they bent the rules, but clearly they just didn’t rate Guirassy enough to change their plans.
It’s probably wise, especially if they’re really backing 18 year old Marc Guiu as a potential third option behind Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. But regardless, it’s another option off the table. The pool of candidates will only get smaller, and more expensive as teams’ needs grow larger.