Chelsea’s striker situation still feels unfinished, even after another expensive attempt to fix it. Liam Delap and Joao Pedro arrived for big money, but the goals have not followed in the way Chelsea hoped. Delap has barely had a run without disruption. Pedro has shown flashes, but not the numbers that change a season. Now another name is being pushed to the front. Julian Alvarez. And the line around him is simple. A return to England would not put him off.
CHELSEA STILL CHASING A FORWARD THEY CAN TRUST
Chelsea have signed attackers since the takeover and they keep landing in the same place. Plenty of movement. Plenty of build-up. Then the final touch goes missing.
Some of the signings have helped in other ways. Pressing. Link play. Rotation. But the main issue stays alive. When games tighten and spaces shrink, Chelsea still do not look like a team with a guaranteed goal in them. That is why the Alvarez link sticks. It fills a gap Chelsea keep showing.
WHY JULIAN ALVAREZ FEELS LIKE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TARGET
Alvarez is not a box striker who waits. He gets involved. He runs channels. He presses from the front. He looks like someone who enjoys work as much as finishing. That suits Chelsea. Their best spells come when the striker adds to the chaos rather than watching it.
At Manchester City, Alvarez scored 36 goals across two seasons. He was not the first option every week. Erling Haaland was. Yet Alvarez still found a way to contribute and keep his numbers respectable. He also knows what elite pressure looks like. Trophies. Big nights. The whole thing.
ATLETICO’S MESSAGE IS CLEAR, BUT SUMMER HAS ITS OWN RULES
Atletico Madrid have shown no desire to sell. That is the official stance, and it makes sense. Alvarez is too important to lose easily. But the same reports suggest a deal could be possible in the summer if someone puts around £87m on the table. That is the figure being mentioned. Enough to recoup their investment and move on without feeling robbed.
Chelsea have paid that sort of money before. The question is whether they want to do it again for one player. Up front. With no hiding place.
HIS OUTPUT IN SPAIN IS WHY THIS WON’T GO AWAY
Alvarez has scored 40 goals in 18 months at Atletico. That is the part that keeps dragging Chelsea back into the conversation. It is not just the total either. It is how often he turns up. He has become central to their attack quickly, which is not easy in a team built on control and discipline. That is why clubs keep watching him. You do not get many chances to sign a forward who looks settled and still improving.
WHAT ALVAREZ SAID ABOUT THE SPECULATION
Alvarez has been asked about the rumours. He did not bite.
He said he tries not to pay attention, that most of the talk is online, and that he is focused on the season and on winning with Atletico. Standard lines, yes. But the tone mattered. No irritation. No panic. Just distance. That usually tells you the story is not bothering him.
DELAP AND JOAO PEDRO HAVE LEFT CHELSEA WANTING MORE
Chelsea spent around £90m on Delap and Pedro. The return has been uneven.
Delap has had injury issues and has only one goal. It is hard to lead the line like that. Pedro has been better overall, but he still has not hit double figures. That is the level Chelsea need if they want to compete seriously.
It does not mean they will give up on them. But it explains the search continuing anyway.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
Chelsea chasing Alvarez feels like a sign they’re tired of waiting for things to click. Delap and Pedro might still come good, but “might” doesn’t win you matches in February. Alvarez is proven, aggressive, and used to pressure. Atletico can say they don’t want to sell, but big fees change moods. If Chelsea really decide this is the striker they want, it won’t stay quiet for long.
As featured on Chelseanews.com