Chelsea may well have a lot of attackers on paper but the spread of those likely to actually be at the club next season as part of Enzo Maresca's squad is much thinner. Boiling it down, they have two natural strikers, three right-wingers, one left-winger, a No.10, and Joao Pedro who can fill across most of these positions.
When Tyrique George is added on the left, there is decent enough quality and cover throughout. Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke can both operate on the left, even if they prefer the right. Estevao Willian can as well, as he showed on Saturday for Palmeiras, but like his new teammates, it does limit him.
Palmer has now been used on the left, right, and mainly through the middle by Maresca. Nicolas Jackson has not been pushed to the flank since Mauricio Pochettino tried it sporadically at Stamford Bridge, but it is an option if needed.
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When Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez are considered, because both could be deployed as attacking midfielders, there is ample versatility and strength here. Pedro can play as a left-winger, striker, shadow striker, or No.10.
The question that many will ask is how this fits with Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, and Marc Guiu? The answer is that none of them will be involved in the first-team. They cost £102million in total but have found themselves out of Maresca's immediate plans.
Felix, especially, is an outsider and could leave permanently if the right offer arrives. His move from Atletico has been an unmitigated but entirely predictable disaster.
For Nkunku, things just never worked out. His injuries and competition with Palmer have seen him struggle to ever really get going. When he has been on it, Nkunku still looks useful (as he has in the Club World Cup), but that won't stop Chelsea being open to selling him.
If Pedro is to join immediately then his spot is effectively taken. As for Guiu, although there are shoots of positivity from his performances, the teenager is raw and not yet ready for elite football. A loan would suit him and now Chelsea have two strikers plus Pedro to count on, there is no place for him.
Given the money Chelsea have spent on forwards under Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly, £471million since January 2023 - therefore not counting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Raheem Sterling, both signed under interim sporting directorship - there are questions being asked of why yet more are needed. Mistakes have undoubtedly been made.
The price of Jamie Gittens and Pedro (potentially worth over £110million with all add-ons) could be seen as a massive overspend as well. They will have to impress to put the price tag behind them like Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, as the best examples, have done.
But, despite the noise and calls of criticism for Chelsea buying yet more forwards, they are neither overflowing or left short. There are two primary strikers, two senior wingers and an exciting backup set to learn the ropes, one new left-winger and an academy graduate to cover.
Pedro could be classed as the second of two No.10s, whilst he will also be deputy to Gittens on the left, in likelihood. There are plenty of options for rotation and movement within this, as well as adding more fluidity from deep.
So does this mean Chelsea are done in the market for attackers? Logic says yes but Chelsea rarely follow logical steps. They will continue to monitor the market in case of opportunities.
Mohammed Kudus, for example, as another versatile winger, is someone of interest. Alejandro Garnacho the same. If deals which involved players going to West Ham or Manchester United in part-exchange (albeit declared 'separate') were to emerge, then it cannot be ruled out that more change occurs.
Robert Sanchez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are thought to be on West Ham's radar whilst Nkunku was a target for United in January. The longer the window goes on, the more chance of this sort of thing happening. Teams get desperate and surprises happen. Look at Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling moving on deadline day loans that very few would have predicted last summer.
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Then there is the uncertainty around Madueke and Jackson. They have been two of the relative success stories at Chelsea in terms of value for money. Both have respectful if not sensational returns for their £35million and £30million fees in 2023.
They have shown plenty of signs of improving over time as well. 2025 has not been kind to either, though, and they are fighting a losing battle to win over supporters after a tough end to the season as well as Club World Cup issues.
Chelsea are not actively pushing to sell them but publicly make it clear that almost all of their players are available at the right price. Should bids come in for the pair then Chelsea might not be done in the market yet.
A Madueke exit, for example, would open up moves for Kudus or Garnacho (among others). As for Jackson, his position is already under threat from Delap but it is the promise of Hugo Ekitike and Victor Osimhen remains.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Osimhen for years now and his failure to find a permanent home so far this summer has only added to frustration from many supporters that the ideal player is right there. At 26, Osimhen's total package is expected to be enormous with Galatasaray competing with Saudi Arabian sides to get him away from Napoli, who are keen to cash in.
Then there is the £84.5million demands from Eintracht Frankfurt for Ekitike. Chelsea are admirers but will not pay the asking price. If the structure of a deal could be altered or players involved going the other way then it is not one to give up on yet.
Viktor Gyokeres (at least £65million) and Benjamin Sesko (possibly up to £92million) have been closely mentioned with Chelsea previously as well but neither have been considered to the same level as others. It would take a remarkable turn for something to be done for either of them from now.
Ultmately, the dynamic and look of Chelsea's attack is about to change again. They have addressed the positions needed this summer already but that does not mean they will not look to remain alert for other openings.
As ever, Chelsea are unpredictable but ready to do business at every corner. Even when it looks like there is little room to add more, they will find ways to keep shifting the dial. Rightly or wrongly, it is the chosen method.