‘UEFA to block Chelsea from signing new striker sensation’
Chelsea are facing a new problem as they look to boost their goalscoring options in the summer transfer window.
A consistent source of goals has been a major problem for Enzo Maresca‘s side in recent months, derailing their promising start to the campaign.
Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer have only just ended long goal droughts, while Football Insider has been told Christopher Nkunku will be allowed to leave Chelsea in the summer amid a lack of game time, and disappointing impact when he has featured.
Consequently, a new striker clearly needs to be high on the list of priorities at Stamford Bridge once the market reopens at the end of the season.
Emanuel Emecha a target at Stamford Bridge
According to a new report from Foot Mercato, one striker target for Chelsea this summer is Dutch “sensation” Emanuel Emegha from French club Strasbourg.
The 22-year-old has impressed for the Ligue 1 side this season with 14 goals and three assists in 27 league appearances.
Talks are apparently underway, and ordinarily this would seem like a simple deal to do given both clubs are part of the same BlueCo ownership group.
Indeed, Chelsea duo Andrey Santos and Djorde Petrovic have enjoyed impressive loan spells at Strasbourg this season and could be in line for a first-team chances when they return to Stamford Bridge.
Yet despite all those links, there is one big issue that could keep the Premier League club from making Emegha the striker they need this summer.
Strasbourg success to cost Chelsea
This season, new Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has put pressure on Maresca at Chelsea, by overseeing a brilliant campaign in his first season in France.
With two games of the Ligue 1 season to be played, Rosenior’s side currently sit sixth in the table, just two points behind second place Marseille.
As a result they are firmly in the mix for European qualification, which may turn into a problem for Chelsea when it comes to their pursuit of Emegha.
The Blues are of course also competing for a place in the Champions League next season, meaning they are at risk of clashing with their fellow BlueCo owned club.
That though presents a potentially serious problem in terms of recruitment, given UEFA rules state clubs with the same owners cannot do any business with each other if they are competing in the same competition [The Sun].
| Emanuel Emegha 2024/25 stats | Total (Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 29 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
So if both Chelsea and Strasbourg are in the Champions League or Europa League next season, a deal for Emegha will be off before it has even had a chance to be completed.
Given the connection between these two clubs would help with negotiations otherwise, such a scenario will make it impossible for the Blues to get the striker they so badly need for next season.
Of course, qualification for the Champions League is hugely important to Maresca and his side if they are to make a success out of this campaign.
They won’t want it to harm their chances of boosting their attacking options for the coming campaign, but it may be the lesser of two evils in the grand scheme of things at Stamford Bridge.
With that in mind there is likely to be plenty of individuals at Chelsea hoping that despite the link between the sides, Starsbourg’s own end to the season proves to be a less positive one.