Chelsea is apparently looking for more economical options in their quest to complete a transfer for a new center forward. The Blues previously revamped their entire squad, including their strikers, within the last two years. The West London side signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal last summer to lead their front line.
Jackson, despite costing the club around $40 million, endured an up-and-down freshman campaign with his new team. Although he scored 17 total goals during the 2023/24 season, the striker also missed 24 big chances during Premier League play. Only Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez racked up more massive missed opportunities than Jackson.
Chelsea targets youngsters, as English rivals want star strikers
As a result of Jackson’s misfortunes, and the club’s willingness to sign new players, Chelsea is in the market for a new forward. The Blues have been linked with Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran in recent weeks. Villa, however, currently value their forward at over $50 million. Due to this price tag, Chelsea have reportedly turned their attention to Atletico Madrid youngster Samu Omorodion.
While Omorodion only managed to score nine goals on loan with Alaves last season, the forward is rated highly at Atleti. Chelsea recently saw a $38 million bid for the youngster rejected by the Spanish side. Despite the setback, the Blues are still working to sign either Duran or Omorodion.
Both forwards are expected to grow into solid players in the future. Nevertheless, the specific targets are certainly interesting. English rivals Arsenal are also looking to sign a center forward this summer. The Gunners, however, have been linked with big names such as Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and Victor Osimhen. Manchester United also recently joined the race to potentially sign Joshua Zirkzee as well.
Blues flirting with potential financial penalties
Chelsea’s resistance to targeting a current prolific striker could very well come down to…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelseas-financial-issues-could-hinder-transfer-links/
Author : Chris Moore
Publish date : 2024-06-19 17:01:33
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