Former Chelsea player Joe Cole has expressed doubts over the club’s ability to attract a top-class centre forward this summer. The Blues lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, with their inability to convert chances once again on show. Chelsea have failed to score in their last four matches in all competitions, with Kai Havertz their top scorer this season with nine goals. The club is likely to make signing a new centre forward a priority this summer, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen among their targets, while the club has also shown interest in Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos.
However, Cole believes that top strikers across Europe will have major reservations over a move to Stamford Bridge, not only due to doubts over European football next season but also over decision-making at the club. He said that the club’s owners have spent money, but they probably have to look at themselves and go, “Right, who’s advising us on these players? Why have we got nine number 10 wingers when we could have got a number nine?” Cole added that the problem lies with the recruitment over the last 12 months and that no one in the squad has scored more than 20 goals in a season in their career.
Chelsea do have a deal in place to sign Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £53 million. The 25-year-old scored 35 goals in all competitions last season, following that up with 17 this season but having seldom operated as a traditional centre forward, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is not convinced he is the answer. Ferdinand said that they’ve got Nkunku coming in the summer, but again he’s not an out-and-out number nine. He’s coming up as a young player coming off the wide areas or playing as a 10 in a free role behind the striker. So the balance in the squad isn’t there.
Chelsea are set to miss out on Champions League football next season unless they stage a remarkable comeback against Real Madrid, with their Premier League top-four hopes over, sitting 17 points adrift of fourth-place Manchester United. The club’s immediate problem is confidence, and there’s quality players who can score goals, but their confidence is low. Cole said that it’s up to Frank Lampard and his coaching staff to coach that out of them somehow.
In conclusion, Cole has raised doubts over Chelsea’s ability to attract a top-class centre forward this summer, with the club’s recruitment over the last 12 months being a major issue. The club is likely to make signing a new centre forward a priority this summer, but top strikers across Europe will have major reservations over a move to Stamford Bridge due to doubts over European football next season and decision-making at the club.