The Story:
Chelsea has been an utter disappointment this season and a part of it has been owing to the fact that they were absolutely docile and incompetent in the transfer market last summer. For a title-winning team, it is always important to keep revamping the team. The summer Antonio Conte arrived at Chelsea was a huge one as the gaffer made some hugely impactful signings for the team.
However, in the title defence season, the club’s board failed to meet the primary transfer targets. Though Chelsea had signed Alvaro Morata for a world-record fee, it is perceived that Antonio Conte would have preferred Romelu Lukaku over Morata any day. It makes sense too as the Italian manager likes to have a target man in his team and Morata does not seem to fit the bill.
Olivier Giroud signed in January and though the Frenchman is a good target man, he certainly lacks the overall skills to start on a weekly basis. So, where is the team struck now?
Robert Lewandowski- The Perfect Striker
I have said it time and again that there are few better strikers in the world than an in-form Robert Lewandowski. His movement inside the box is quick and good and the man can bully the opposition inside the box with relative ease.
Moreover, he has a calm head and more often than not takes his chance. He is strong with either foot, links up well with his teammates and is always a threatening figure inside the box. In 24 Bundesliga appearances this season, Robert has scored 23 goals whilst having created 19 goal-scoring chances too. He has an impressive shot accuracy of 51% and has won a decent 40% of his defensive duels too.
Is he the answer to Chelsea’s woes?
Now, this is a tricky question. Chelsea has a quality striker in Alvaro Morata, and Olivier Giroud is there to help him out when needed. However, Antonio Conte is certainly displeased with Morata over his lack of toughness in the physically demanding Premier League. The Spaniard has often fallen down and failed to step up to put in a fight too. Nemanja Matic bullied him constantly in the game at Old Trafford last month and similarly, the Spaniard has been underwhelming whenever the game gets physical. He is a good finisher and has lots of time to improve his game.
Probably a new manager might work wonders for him and hence I feel that making a move for Lewandowski might be futile from the club’s perspective currently. Alvaro Morata might turn up big time once he settles into the league. The former Real Madrid man is younger than Lewandowski too and hence might be the better prospect for the future than the Pole.
