Chelsea and their new manager Xabi Alonso are set to be busy in the summer transfer window.
Over the weekend, Chelsea announced Alonso as their new boss, with the 44-year-old due to arrive on 1 July.
The Blues could also welcome the arrival of a centre-forward in the summer as they look to improve their squad.
It’s going to be a big summer for Xabi Alonso and Chelsea!
Xabi Alonso graphic
Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Chelsea think Igor Thiago could transform them into title contenders
In February, it was reported that Chelsea have monitored Brentford’s Igor Thiago this season, and it appears that their interest in the striker is growing.
According to TEAMtalk, Thiago is now one of the club’s priority targets heading into the next transfer window.
The outlet claims that Chelsea believe Thiago can turn the team into genuine title contenders under Alonso.
Igor Thiago of Brentford
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The 24-year-old will not come cheap, though. Brentford paid £30m when they signed Thiago from Club Brugge in 2024, and TEAMtalk’s report states that the Bees could demand triple that before they even consider a sale.
The arrival of Thiago will almost certainly spell the end for Liam Delap at Chelsea despite the Englishman only arriving at Stamford Bridge last June.
Delap has really struggled in west London this season, scoring just one goal in the Premier League.
Chelsea paying £90m for Igor Thiago should be unthinkable
There is no denying that Thiago has had an amazing campaign. In 37 league games, he has scored 22 goals. Only Manchester City’s talisman Erling Haaland (26) has found the back of the net on more occasions than the Brazilian.
Nevertheless, it would be crazy for Chelsea to splash out £90m on Thiago. This is his only outstanding season in England, while playing for Chelsea will be an entirely different proposition.
At Chelsea, Thiago is going to have to face low blocks every week. That is not an issue he is having to deal with at Brentford, who are handed plenty of counter-attacking opportunities and chances to hurt teams on transition.
Simply put, a centre-forward who cannot outfox a low block is not going to score 20 Premier League goals for Chelsea, and Thiago has not had to prove that he can do that at Brentford.
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