Even in the early embers of a summer transfer window the links between Chelsea and strikers are impossible to ignore. It seems quite likely that by the time the Club World Cup kicks off in June that the Blues will be lining up with a new focal point of the attack, but who of the available options should they sign?
What Striker Should Chelsea Sign This Summer
Liam Delap
The Ipswich Town man is one of a four-man shortlist outlined by Ben Jacobs. With a well-known release clause and experience in England’s top division, Liam Delap is arguably the safest bet. Despite playing for a poor team he accrued 14 goal contributions in the league.
Read More:‘Perfect’; Centre Back Linked With Chelsea Transfer
Where the young Englishman falls down is the nitty-gritty numbers. He ranks very low in a number of stats like shot creating actions per 90, non-penalty goals per 90, passes attempted and completed, and even non-penalty xG.
The numbers outline a very ineffective striker for the most part but the eye test says otherwise. Delap used his physicality quite well in a relegation-fodder outfit to drag his team forward, he ranks very high in progressive carries and successful take-ons, all of which could be emphasised more if he was playing for a big team like Chelsea.
Benjamin Sesko
Long seen as someone who would inevitably move to the Premier League, this could finally be the summer that Benjamin Sesko leaves the Bundesliga for a big move. The RB Leipzig man is a fairly proven goalscorer having hit double figures in the league in his last three campaigns. He’s also had the experience of playing and netting in the Champions League for Leipzig.
Read More:‘Closely Monitoring’: Chelsea Eyeing 14-Goal Attacking Speedster
The obvious appeal of a player like this is his physical profile, he’s tall and can score goals while outperforming his xG. He also ranks highly in progressive carries and take-ons like Delap but is a much better passer and scores at a much better per 90 rate.
Hugo Ekitike
Formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, Hugo Ekitike is a massive gamble. His 2024/25 for Eintracht Frankfurt was outstanding as he managed 23 goal contributions in 33 Bundesliga outings. He added a further seven in the Europa League.
The reason he’s a gamble is this could be a one-off occurrence. He had a chance in the 2022/23 campaign to prove himself at PSG but was sold after netting three times and assisting four in 25 Ligue 1 appearances. There’s a chance he, like others, won’t translate outside of the Bundesliga or that he’s a one-season wonder.
Read More:What if Pelé Had Played in Europe?
Despite that, he might just be worth the risk. His stats are pretty insane when compared to the other names on the shortlist. While Sesko and Delap have some peaks and valleys, Ekitike ranks highly in just about everything. Passing, pressing, progressive carries, shots, xG/90, and shot-creating actions are all stats he’s in the top 70+ percentile of. In his current form he resembles the kind of well-rounded approach the Blues have with Nicolas Jackson, but with more of a goalscoring edge.
Viktor Gyokeres
Another man who looks set to leave his team for a new challenge is back-to-back league winner with Sporting, Viktor Gyokeres. The numbers speak for themselves. In the 2024/25 league term, the striker netted 39 goals in 33 appearances, an improvement from 29 in 33 the prior season.
Read More:Opinion: Enzo Fernandez Replacement Impresses for Strasbourg
What further sets him apart is his assist numbers. He got 10 assists for Coventry in the Championship in 2022/23 and followed that up with 10 more in the league in his debut campaign with Sporting. He’s proven to be effective on the big stages as well, netting six strikes in eight Champions League matches.
Statistically, he beats out even Ekitike. He’s in the 99th percentile for progressive carries, successful take-ons, progressive passes, shot-creating actions per 90, non-penalty goals per 90, and even npxG+xAG per 90.
The numbers don’t lie, Gyokeres is an absolute monster. He can be clinical, he can set up teammates, he can dribble, and he can pass. His only weakness when it comes to the Premier League might be a lack of proven aerial ability but when he’s got so much to his game that could be overlooked.
One other feather in his cap is that the Swedish international has played and been prolific in the English footballing pyramid. His two seasons at Coventry saw him net double figures in a very difficult, physical league, something that could ease his transition to the Premier League.
Who Should Chelsea Sign?
Based on the available evidence, it’s easy to see why all four players are on the shortlist for a club like Chelsea. In our estimation, the best pick might just be the versatile and Championship proven Gyokeres. His numbers speak for themselves and while the transition from Portugal to England is difficult, it is tough to see someone with his output going completely blank in the Premier League.
The other option would be betting on Delap, the fact he’s done it in the top division of England is encouraging. More than that, his physicality and tenacity are a trademark of some of the Blues’ most iconic strikers; it’s easy to picture him as the Diego Costa to Cole Palmer’s Eden Hazard, a troublesome strong man who occupies defenders to allow the creators the room to make things happen.
Featured Image Credits
What Striker should Chelsea Sign - image of Enzo Maresca with Nicolas Jackson
IMAGO / NurPhoto
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Chelsea FC – Premier League Enzo Maresca, manager of Chelsea, and Nicolas Jackson during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux in Wolverhampton, England, on August 25, 2024. Wolverhampton West Midlands United Kingdom PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMIxNewsx originalFilename:fletcher-wolverha240825_npTDy.jpg