Chelsea are still searching for a new striker this summer even though they have signed talented 22-year-old Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal forward is on a hot streak at club level but has only played the one season of senior football.
It makes him somewhat of a risk for Mauricio Pochettino as he plans to spearhead his Chelsea side without a proven senior forward. Armando Broja is currently injured and has less than ten Premier League career goals so far. Even once he recovers from a damaging lay-off it would be quite the ask to rely on him consistently.
Jackson, while a cheaper option than many big-money names on the market, is a new type of transfer that Chelsea have not used too many times in recent years. They have instead turned to proven options often costing a bomb and producing less than a splash.
Pochettino will ultimately still be hoping that a player of serious pedigree can be found, though, as he seeks to not only massively improve the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge but also make a serious push for the top four.
In a bid to do that, football.london has taken a look at the latest reports on Chelsea and their striker options.
Lukaku demands early Inter move
It is said in Italy, with publication Corriere dello Sport reporting, that Lukaku is not only keen to secure a return back to Inter, but also that he has put a timeframe on the move as well.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Cherki 'approval', £51m Vlahovic bid, Pulisic offers
After leaving Inter in 2021 to rejoin Chelsea, Lukaku was sent back to San Siro after just one year in London following a disastrous return. With the Blues now keen to rid themselves of his wages and any links to the £97.5 million ($123.8m) man, another season away is seen as the most likely option.
Due to Inter training starting on July 13, Lukaku is said to be angling for a deal to be completed before then so he can be involved from the off. Lukaku is currently training on his own in Sardinia to maintain fitness. Chelsea are ready to take a massive loss on Lukaku to ensure a deal is possible with £34 million ($43.2m) said the new asking price for the Belgian.
football.london says: Frankly, this doesn't surprise us. It's yet another twist to the Lukaku saga as Chelsea look to try and get the Belgian off their books. The Blues would be in good mind to simply turn down the transfer and have him train with the reserves.
The best deal here is for a permanent resolution to be found and for the book to be closed and thrown out. There is little that anyone can gain with consistent yearly loans and debates raging throughout the season. Considering Pochettino will be devoting his time towards Jackson anyway, Chelsea have found their new striker and it's not Lukaku.
Business will be done when it gets done and right now finding the answer to Lukaku's situation is hardly the priority for Pochettino and Co considering he has just arrived. A transfer of some shape or form will happen, it's just a question of when, not if.
Vlahovic decision made
Juventus have decided that they will look elsewhere for a new striker this summer with Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund identified as their replacement for Dusan Vlahovic.
The Serbian has had a struggle since moving from Fiorentina and is consistently linked with transfers to Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United as well as Europe's other top sides.
He will be sold if an appropriate offer comes in, reports from Italy state, while a bid from Chelsea is said to have already been rejected earlier this year worth around £51.5m ($65.4m).
football.london says: The issue here is that Chelsea would probably prefer to get their hands on Hojlund instead of Vlahovic, just like Juventus, Arsenal and United. There has been a changing of the guard quickly in Italy with even Vlahovic, 23, now seen as yesterday's man.
Hojlund, 20, is one of the elite young strikers on the planet and is gaining attention comparable with such a tag. He is a player seen as being not only an answer for the here and now but also for years to come. Like Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, he is a new breed of striker built around a combination of physicality and technical excellence, a move away from tricky little forwards.
Chelsea could do with a mix of experience and youth quality that perhaps Vlahovic offers more than Hojlund, but that brings the risk of a player out of form and with more expectations. We've already seen how that one ends.
