Expert suggests Chelsea could be signing centre-forward as new details emerge
Noel Whelan has suggested Chelsea need to add a “scorer’s touch” by moving for a “natural number nine” in the remainder of the window.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Stamford Bridge club need a player similar to Erling Haaland or Darwin Nunez.
Chelsea needed goals from defenders Kalidou Koulibaly and Reece James in order to claim a 2-2 draw against rivals Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (14 August).
Thomas Tuchel started with Raheem Sterling leading the line, with striker Armando Broja coming off the bench in injury time.
As per Sky Sports (16 August), Chelsea have attempted 48 crosses so far this season, but only 10 have successfully found another Blues player.
The Londoners, who lost Romelu Lukaku earlier this summer, have been linked with a move for Barcelona’s Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
Whelan claimed Tottenham would have been “dead and buried” in Sunday’s game if Chelsea had a natural striker on the pitch.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “They need a natural number nine, someone like Nunez and Haaland.
“I think some of those crosses, with the volume of crosses coming in – a lot more goals will be scored with a natural number nine.
“That’s the only missing link. Everything else – the build-up, the interchanging – was fine. The only thing missing was a scorer’s touch.
“Havertz and Sterling are being nurtured into that role, but it’s not natural for them.
“This is something where a striker could come away with a couple of goals – and that game is dead and buried.
“They’re crying out for a natural option to get on the end of these deliveries.”
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