Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has been desperately looking for a backup striker for Alvaro Morata for quite some time now. While Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi has been already deemed surplus to the requirements and is expected to leave the club this January, the Blues will need to act quickly in order to sign a proper backup striker within these remaining days of the transfer window.
In this article, we will talk about three players Chelsea should really go after, in order further boost their goal-scoring department.
[Author’s note: We’re not including Edin Dzeko since the player and the club have failed to come to an agreement]
Kevin Gameiro – Atletico Madrid
Atleti’s Kevin Gameiro could be an ideal option for Chelsea. Following the arrival of former Blues’ player Diego Costa in the January transfer window, Gameiro’s importance in Atletico’s attacking department has taken a significant blow.
The Frenchman has only featured in 13 league games this season, in which he has scored four goals. However, that being said, Gameiro is a well-established striker, who has significant experience of playing in top-flight football. He has made over 340 league appearances across Spanish and French top flight during his career.
At the age of 30, he might not be a long-term option for the Blues but he is definitely someone who can share the scoring burden with Alvaro Morata.
Wissam Ben-Yedder – Sevilla FC
Known for his ability to quickly make an impact, Wissam Ben-Yedder could be an interesting candidate for Chelsea in the attacking department.
The Sevilla frontman, despite scoring 16 goals this season, might leave the club with Borussia Dortmund interested. Even though the Frenchman has netted only five goals this season in the league, his impressive tally in the Champions League shows just how good he can really be.
Blessed with excellent technical prowess, Wissam Ben-Yedder could be an upgrade on Michy Batshuayi in some aspects and overall, an apt backup for Alvaro Morata upfront.
Ashley Barnes
As crazy as it may seem, Burnley’s Ashley Barnes could actually be a perfect alternative for Chelsea.
The 28-year-old has been one of the main strikers for the Clarets this season. Despite his measly tally of three goals in 23 matches, Barnes’ overall work-ethic is very impressive and he is definitely much more than just a regular goal-scorer.
Known for his sheer physical presence inside the box, Ashley Barnes can act as a perfect target man for the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro. Furthermore, he is also a great header of the ball and his work-rate is very impressive.
His current contract with Burnley expires in 2019, meaning the English striker isn’t expected to cost a fortune either, unlike the aforementioned players on our list.