Chelsea are reportedly set for a major striker overhaul in the summer, with Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain, Juventus' Alvaro Morata and Everton's Romelu Lukaku all potential purchases. According to MailOnline's Simon Jones , the Blues' current No. 1 front man Diego Costa wants to return to Spain, under-performing Loic Remy could be sold and Radamel Falcao is set to return to parent club Monaco, meaning Chelsea could be left with no strikers. None of the west London club's named targets will come cheap, though. Napoli are currently holding out for Higuain's £72 million release clause—although the 28-year-old Argentinian is "hoping" the club lower that figure—while Lukaku, 23, will reportedly cost £65 million, per Jones. Morata's situation is more complicated. Though he is currently at Juventus, Real Madrid are interested in exercising their buyback option on the 23-year-old Spaniard this summer with a view to selling him on at a profit, per AS (via football writer Dylan Fahy): Arsenal are reportedly prepared to shell out £51 million for Morata, an indication that he too could be an expensive purchase for the Blues, Corriere dello Sport (via the Sun 's Lee Astley). Who would be the best signing for Chelsea in the summer? Higuain Lukaku Morata vote to see results However, it is money that needs to be spent. An over-reliance on Costa hamstrung Chelsea in the 2015-16 season and is just one of the many reasons they made such a shocking defence of their Premier League title. A clear out is needed at Chelsea, with Remy and loanees Falcao and Alexandre Pato likely some of the first to be moved on—the trio netted a combined three Premier League goals between them in 2015-16, per WhoScored.com . With Costa also seemingly on his way out of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea and new manager Antonio Conte may need to add two top-quality strikers in the summer. Higuain had a career-best season in 2015-16, netting 36 Serie A goals in 35 appearances and setting a new record in the Italian top flight, per Opta: Even for Chelsea, though, his price tag may prove too high and, given that he will be 29 in December, the Blues may not see much long-term value in splashing out on him. Lukaku and Morata, however, could potentially be Chelsea stars for the best part of the next decade. Everton's Belgian powerhouse is already a proven force in the Premier League having netted on a remarkably consistent basis in recent seasons, per Squawka Dave: Lukaku is also already familiar with Chelsea having spent three years with the west London club before his £28 million move to Everton in 2014. It will undoubtedly be galling for Chelsea to have to pay more than double to re-buy their former player, but he has proven he is capable. The issue for the Blues may be competing with other clubs, as Manchester United, among others, are also reportedly interested in the former Anderlecht man, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones: Morata, meanwhile, is improving with every campaign, per Opta: It would be too much of a gamble to bring him in as Chelsea's No. 1 striker, but alongside Lukaku he could be devastating. To buy both, Chelsea will likely have to shell out more than £100 million, but it is a price that needs to be paid if they are to return to the upper echelons of European football.
No comments:
Write comments