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Brentford striker Igor Thiago is high on the list of options as Chelsea ramp up their search for a new no.9, according to reports.
TEAMtalk claim that the Blues do have a “strong interest” in the Brazilian and he is a player they have long admired.
Even before his purple patch of form for Brentford this season, scouts had been watching Thiago, with the player having first come on their radar during his time at Club Brugge.
He found the back of the net 29 times for the Belgian Pro League outfit during the 2023/24 campaign before he left for the Gtech Community Stadium in a deal worth £30m before the start of last season.
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However, injury problems limited Thiago’s minutes during his first twelve months in English football, and we are only seeing his best form now.
His performances for Brentford have been eye-catching
Thiago has been a colossus for the Bees, having scored 21 goals in all competitions. He has contributed massively to Keith Andrews’ team’s rise to 7th in the Premier League table.
The forward is an intimidating presence up front, using his strength and height to bully opposing defences, but he has also shown subtlety and composure with his finishing.
Why are Chelsea on the lookout for another striker?
Joao Pedro‘s performances would suggest there isn’t any real need for a player like Thiago, but there are doubts over the futures of several other players. Buy a Joao Pedro shirt from the official Chelsea store here.
Liam Delap has flattered to deceive since his move from Ipswich Town last summer, while Nicolas Jackson is not expected to stay following his return from a loan spell at Bayern Munich.
Emmanuel Emegha is set to arrive from Strasbourg, but the Dutchman has had a lot of injury problems this campaign, so Chelsea may feel that the addition of Thiago will help provide sufficient depth in a key position.
Read more about the Chelsea First Team Squad for 2025/26 here