If the campaign does end with Chelsea securing Champions League qualification, the Blues will have done so without the presence of a reliable and consistent centre-forward this season.
While Enzo Maresca does have Nicolas Jackson to call upon, the Senegalese striker has only scored ten times in the Premier League in 2024/25, albeit while having missed five games in February and March due to a hamstring injury.
Chelsea-Nicolas-Jackson
The currently suspended marksman has perhaps not been helped by the lack of direct competition in that role, with teenager Marc Guiu having also been sidelined since February with his own hamstring issue.
Although Jackson's return of 29 goals in 77 games is hardly disastrous, the Blues are still longing for a properly prolific presence to lead the line, echoing the days of Diego Costa and Didier Drogba in their pomp.
In a summer in which the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United will also likely be seeking a new striker, Chelsea themselves appear keen to bolster their ranks with a new addition of their own, with a handful of leading targets already emerging.
The latest on Chelsea's striker search
Arguably the dream target for any Premier League outfit this summer would be Newcastle United talisman, Alexander Isak, with the Swedish star having scored 23 top-flight goals this season - following on from the 21 he chalked up in 2023/24.
The former Real Sociedad man was the subject of interest from the Stamford Bridge side last summer, with contact being made, while reports have again emerged regarding their interest in his services this time around.
Despite the 25-year-old reportedly being open to moving to London, amid rival interest from the Gunners, any deal appears to be out of reach, not least with Newcastle set to demand around £150m if they are to sanction a sale.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal-1
With that in mind, alternative options have been drawn up by Todd Boehly and co, with recent reports outlining that Ipswich Town's Liam Delap remains a leading target, amid his 12-goal haul in the league this term.
The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell recently revealed that the 22-year-old has held 'face-to-face talks' with Man United, although Chelsea were named as a rival suitor, with Delap expected to hold discussions with a variety of clubs before settling on a new destination.
Nicolas-Jackson-Liam-Delap
Available for just £30m, following Ipswich's recent relegation, the Englishman would represent a bargain option for Boehly this summer, with competition and cover needed for Jackson through the middle.
Managing to get such a deal over the line could also run parallel with a key departure from the Bridge, with Christopher Nkunku one notable high earner who surely needs to depart.
How much Nkunku earns compared to Delap & Isak
It's worth remembering the excitement that surrounded the capture of Nkunku back in the summer of 2023, with the Frenchman joining from RB Leipzig on a £52m deal, having registered 125 goals and assists in 172 games for the Bundesliga side prior to that.
That marquee move appeared a notable coup considering his exploits in 2021/22, when the in-demand talent racked up 35 goals and 20 assists in just 57 games, although such form has not been translated in English football.
A knee injury sustained during pre-season, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, set the tone for what has been a wretched two years for the 27-year-old, as he ultimately made just 11 Premier League appearances last term, scoring three goals.
Nkunku-Chelsea
While he does boast 14 goals this time around in all competitions, only three of those have come in the top-flight, with the one-time Paris Saint-Germain man restricted to just nine league starts under Maresca's watch.
The issue appears to be finding a settled home for the versatile asset in the starting lineup, with Maresca insisting that he is not an orthodox striker, albeit while having been unable to dislodge Cole Palmer or Enzo Fernandez in the number ten role.
Nkunku's PL record - 23/24 - 24/25
Stat (*per game)
Games (starts)
Goals
Goal frequency
Big chances missed
Assists
Big chances created
Key passes*
Pass accuracy*
Successful dribbles*
Stats via Sofascore
As cult hero John Obi Mikel stated last month, Nkunku simply "looks lost" when he is asked to play through the middle, in the absence of Jackson, with the move having simply not worked out for both parties.
Thankfully, there does appear to wide-ranging interest in the struggling star ahead of the upcoming window, with reports indicating that he could depart for a fee in the region of £35m.
Managing to rake in a figure close to that asking price would also be aided by the ability to shift Nkunku off the wage bill, with the ex-Leipzig man currently taking home £195k-per-week in west London.
To put that into perspective, the highly-sought Isak is on a salary of £120k-per-week at St James' Park, while the aforementioned Delap is on 'just' £20k-per-week at Portman Road, ensuring Nkunku is earning more than both of those targets combined.
Christopher-Nkunku
Based on his limp Premier League return, in particular, the 5 foot 10 flop has not warranted such an outlay, with now the time for Boehly to finally cash in on his expensive mistake.
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