Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin is not too impressed with the striker market right now but thinks Igor Thiago could be an option for his old side this summer.
Thiago has already been linked with a move to Chelsea amid an impressive season at their west London rivals Brentford.
However, the Blues may have to sell a centre-forward before they bring another one in.
Nicolas Jackson could be an option for Chelsea again next season! 👀
Nicolas Jackson, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Emanuel Emegha
Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern/Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/George Wood/Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Right now, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu are all members of their squad, while Emanuel Emegha is set to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the next transfer window.
Igor Thiago of Brentford celebrates scoring
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Pat Nevin thinks Igor Thiago is a good fit for Chelsea
Chelsea’s transfer strategy has moved in a very different direction since being taken over by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
Under BlueCo, Chelsea have preferred signing young players with potential instead of ready-made superstars. With that in mind, Nevin can envision the club bringing in Thiago next.
In an interview with TEAMtalk, Nevin said: “How many in the world can you look at and say, right, he’s a stick-on to get 15 or 20 a season, and you’re young and you’re coming through? It just doesn’t exist, really. So it’s a tough one for them, but they’ll keep trying.
“Given the route they’re trying just now — if there was one that was closest, it would probably be Igor Thiago. Because you look at that and think, ‘Right, okay, you’re scoring in the Premier League, and you are only 24.'”
Thiago has been one of the best forwards in England this season, scoring 18 goals in 28 appearances. Seventeen of them have come in the Premier League.
Brentford are backing Igor Thiago to become the best striker in the world one day 😳
He's been linked with a move to Chelsea 🔵 ⚪️
Igor Thiago's league 2025/26 stats
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Thiago has been quite efficient in the air during the current campaign, so he is a player whom Pedro Neto would likely welcome.
Neto has attempted a lot of crosses this term, but there have been games where his accuracy has been very low. Thiago’s presence on the pitch could perhaps fix that.
Igor Thiago of Brentford warming up
Photo by Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images
Chelsea fans will fear Liam Delap repeat with Igor Thiago
Thiago may be doing well at Brentford now, but the step up to Chelsea could easily prove to be too difficult.
It is something that Delap is struggling with at the moment, with the former Ipswich Town man netting just once in the Premier League this season, and Blues fans will fear a repeat if the club do go on to sign the Brazilian.
Scoring goals for Brentford is one thing, doing it at Chelsea is another. At Stamford Bridge, Thiago is going to have to play against low blocks every week. There will be less space, less counter-attacks and less opportunities to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
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