Chelsea are set to finally address their long-standing striker issues this summer.
The Blues are stacked with talent throughout their squad after a hefty recruitment drive spanning two years but one position remains problematic.
Not since Diego Costa, who left the club in 2017, have Chelsea been able to call upon a reliable, first-choice marksman.
And with most other areas of the squad now fully equipped, the upcoming transfer window presents boss Enzo Maresca the opportunity to target a striker.
Nicolas Jackson currently holds the fork for Chelsea but his record of 12 goals in 33 games will not be viewed as sufficient should the Blues look to kick on next season.
Chelsea could still secure themselves Champions League football next season and Maresca knows that the option to field two separate teams for league and European matches will not present itself in the same way it has this term.
Paradoxically, Chelsea are perhaps striking at the right time due to the passive nature of the striker’s market in recent seasons.
The west London club have been linked with three strikers this summer who all appear attainable should the Blues make forceful moves in the window.
Discussing the clubs transfer plans on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Chelsea, Blues fan Kweku Afari gave the lowdown on the possibility of seeing one of Ipswich’s Liam Delap, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen or Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres landing at Stamford Bridge this summer.
“I’ve been on record and supported Delap all season,” Afari said. “In terms of his goal output at a team like Ipswich that haven’t created many chances, he’s still scoring goals.
“He was a handful against us in both games.
“With a £30million relegation clause in his contract you can go and get him and somebody else if you’re smart with your transfer business.
Delap is attracting interest from Chelsea and Manchester UnitedGetty Chelsea have been long linked with a more for Nigerian striker OsimhenGETTY“So he’d be my preferential choice but I do think he’ll end up going to Manchester United.”
Asked who he would opt for between the remaining two targets, Afari added: “Out of Gyokeres and Osimhen it’s a tough one.
“Gyokeres has burst onto the scene this season. He’s been very good at Sporting and scored a lot of goals but I would just lean towards Osimhen.
“Osimhen just seems more like a Chelsea striker.”
Former Chelsea player Jason Cundy was in agreement with Afari over Osimhen’s suitability to Chelsea.
“He’s a little bit raw, he’s a little bit unorthodox and I like the fact that he’ll put himself about,” Cundy said.
Arsenal and Man United target Gyokeres has been touted as a possible Chelsea target“I don’t know if you remember it but Newcastle away. It was the early part of the game, it’s a brilliant cross that came in off the left-hand side.
“The ball came across the six-yard box and I’m looking at Jackson and he’s on his heels. I want someone that’s going to throw himself at it.
“He’s (Osimhen) the type of guy that will throw himself at ball’s he’s not favoured to win.
Despite delivering an impressive campaign in helping Galatasaray to a league and cup double, scoring 36 times in 40 games, The Nigerian striker is still the property of Serie A leaders Napoli.
Chelsea’s interest in the star dates back a few years but a deal to bring the 26-year-old to the club has been hampered by Napoli’s £150m valuation.
That fee has since dropped after Osimhen’s fallout with the club, leading to his season-long loan switch to Turkey.
Cundy believes Osimhen is currently the best fit for the BluesWhile Chelsea could find themselves within striking distance of agreeing a fee with Napoli, Cundy believes that the player’s wage demands could prove to be a roadblock.
“It does feel like it’s a big stumbling block,” said Cundy. “But there’s creative ways now of structuring contracts as we’ve seen,” (In reference to the club’s system of offering long-term player contracts).
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