It is the summer of 2021 and all is well at Chelsea. The club is basking in the warm afterglow of winning the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel has signed a two-year contract extension. And there is hope that for the first time since 2017, the Blues can challenge for the Premier League title.
Tuchel believes a new striker is crucial to that title ambition. His recommendation is Harry Kane, a non-starter given the England captain's importance to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur. A deal for Erling Haaland, who has thrived at Borussia Dortmund, is explored but ultimately deemed far too costly.
The attainable option is Romelu Lukaku, who is fresh off a Scudetto-winning season with Inter Milan. The Belgian doesn't tick all of Tuchel's boxes but the Chelsea head coach signs off on the striker's arrival. Chelsea subsequently complete a club-record deal worth £97.5million.
READ MORE: Graham Potter faces reality of £32m decision with key Chelsea partnership to be broken
Lukaku is viewed as the solution to Chelsea's profligacy – and things start well with four goals in his opening four matches. However, his form dips, a month-long injury is sustained, and his relationship with Tuchel deteriorates. The now-infamous interview with Sky Italia follows and that is effectively the end for Lukaku at Stamford Bridge.
Fast forward to the present day and Lukaku is no longer at Chelsea. Nor is Tuchel after his shock departure in September. But the profligacy remains and it is an issue Graham Potter must solve. As evidenced by Chelsea only scoring three times in their previous seven matches, he has yet to do so.
"I think we need to improve as a team," said Potter after the Blues' 0-0 draw against Fulham on Friday evening. "Look back and it was 18 months ago that Chelsea weren't scoring and thought they would spend close to £100million on a centre forward and that would fix all of their problems. It didn't. So you have to attack better as a team and that's our challenge."
Potter doesn't lack for attacking options, especially after Chelsea's splurge in the January transfer window. Yet a reliable goalscorer remains notably absent from the squad.
Kai Havertz is a technically gifted and willing worker in the No.9 role but will never be a consistent name on the scoresheet. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, meanwhile, has netted just three times since arriving from Barcelona in the summer and has been – rather damningly – unregistered from Chelsea's squad for the Champions League knockout stage.
Then there is David Datro Fofana. The 20-year-old arrived from Molde at the start of January and was expected to be loaned out to continue his development. Instead, the striker has remained with the first-team group and two substitute appearances. His potential is clear, as is his rawness.
Reinforcement will arrive in the summer transfer window in the shape of Christopher Nkunku, who will complete a switch from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. Chelsea will also have the opportunity to re-sign Tammy Abraham from Roma for £67million, although there has been no word as to whether they will be considered.
Until that point, however, there is no simple solution for Potter. Still, he must find one in the week ahead. The remainder of Chelsea's season hinges on it.
READ MORE:
Chelsea Graham Potter theory emerges after former Bayern Munich boss spotted at Stamford Bridge
What Thiago Silva demanded from Enzo Fernandez as Chelsea transfer mistake highlighted vs Fulham
Every word Graham Potter said on Aubameyang, Chelsea transfers, Mudryk issue and Fernandez
What Enzo Fernandez did to Aleksandar Mitrovic to start proving £106.7m worth for Chelsea
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
