Mauricio Pochettino will likely sign a striker towards the end of the summer transfer window if Chelsea end up deciding a new attacking addition is needed. The Blues have already welcomed Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to the club this summer but currently remain in the market for another option.
Scoring goals was a significant issue for Chelsea in the 2022/23 campaign with no player reaching double figures. Kai Havertz was often deployed at the tip of attack, but he has since completed a £65million move to Arsenal where Mikel Arteta is expected to play him in an advanced midfield role.
Romelu Lukaku is set to return to Cobham in the coming days, but he is pushing hard for a permanent exit and return to Inter. The Belgian striker spent last season on loan now both parties want him to return to the club he initially joined Chelsea from in 2021.
To replace him, Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic has been linked with a possible transfer to Chelsea, but there are no concrete talks and signing a striker is not seen as a guarantee with Pochettino awaiting two auditions before he makes a decision, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Speaking to the Mark Goldbridge That's Football YouTube channel, he said: "Chelsea have always appreciated Dusan Vlahovic but at the moment there is no negotiation at all between Vlahovic and Chelsea. I'm sure that before signing a new striker, if they sign a new striker because it is not guaranteed at all, but in case they do I think it will take some time.
"Mauricio Pochettino wants to see Armando Broja in training and what kind of impact Nicolas Jackson is going to have with the squad. So I think before going there and putting £60million-£80million on a new striker they want to make sure they really need that and what kind of skills they need."
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Broja is still in the recovery stages of the severe knee injury suffered in December but he has been increasing his workload in the gym with an eye on being available as soon as possible. Jackson meanwhile is expected to begin training with his new in the coming days with Nkunku also arriving this week.
If possible, the Blues will likely want to avoid purchasing a new striker just as the current state of the market means they will have to pay a premium price. Despite a challenging spell in Turin, Juventus are demanding between €70million-€80million (£59.8million-£68.4million) for Vlahovic, while Victor Osimhen could cost double that price.
One alternative to the Serie A duo is Montpellier star and Elye Wahi with Chelsea joining their London rivals in the race, according to L'Equipe. It is claimed that the France Under-21 international is also being 'closely followed' by Arsenal , who would likely have to pay in the region of €30million (£26.3million), a far lower asking price than the ones set for Osimhen and Vlahovic.
However, Chelsea can avoid spending any money on a new front line addition if Jackson or Broja can prove they are capable of making the role their own in the eyes of Pochettino.
