Why Chelsea’s striker search is less underwhelming than supporters believe

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Chelsea are determined to strengthen their squad options during the January transfer window and a striker appears to be top of their wanted list. The Blues have been linked to a number of players in recent days and some of the names mentioned have caused amusement for fans on social media.

Even the club’s own supporters have questioned the motives of Antonio Conte and the board, as a few of the rumours are unambitious. However, all of the strikers being linked have similar profiles and that should be encouraging for everybody connected to the Blues.

Antonio Conte is known to be a perfectionist and that can be seen in his recruitment since taking over at Stamford Bridge. Every player that he has brought in has been signed for a reason and he tailors his signings to suit the needs of the squad.

The Italian won’t be influenced by big names and glamour deals, as he wants to have complete control at Stamford Bridge. Marquee signings and big characters don’t help in that.

During the summer, it was surprising that Chelsea signed Alvaro Morata ahead of their former striker Romelu Lukaku. For a long time, it looked destined for the Belgian international to return to Stamford Bridge, but Conte favoured the more level-headed Spaniard.

It can be debated whether that was the right decision or not, but it is easy to see the motives behind the choice.

Although Lukaku is an incredible athlete and a good goal-scorer, Conte would have questioned his mentality and ability to consistently perform for a big club. Morata may never have been a regular starter for either Real Madrid or Juventus, but he had the experience of playing at the highest level.

It was a signing with less risk attached. The Spanish international was less selfish and prepared to work hard for the team. For all of the reasons discussed, the Chelsea manager decided that he was a better fit for his team.

It has become clear that Conte wants another striker to compete with Alvaro Morata, but he doesn’t want to change his system. That is why Michy Batshuayi doesn’t feature more regularly, despite scoring a goal every 96.5 minutes across the major two competitions this season.

The Belgian international was signed to much fanfare, but it was a move that made little tactical sense for the club and they will be desperate not to make a similar error. Some supporters have called for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as he looks set to join Arsenal, but he wouldn’t be a great fit in this Chelsea squad. Therefore, he would be a waste of money.

Who are they trying to bring in?

The Blues are trying to sign a powerful striker that can dominate in the air and bring the midfield into the game. Alvaro Morata is excellent at linking-up play, but he is more mobile than those being linked to the club during this window.

It seems that Conte’s ‘plan B’ would be more direct and a player that can bully the opposition is what fits the bill. He wanted Fernando Llorente as a back-up striker during the summer, but he lost out to Tottenham. The Independent report that the club could be set to try again for the Spaniard. A player of his profile can be expected to arrive before the deadline.

There has been scorn thrown at a number of the players being linked to Chelsea, but Edin Dzeko would be viewed as a good signing if he was to arrive. The Telegraph report that the Blues are in talks over a deal and that could see Batshuayi move in the opposite direction.

This would be a good signing, as the Bosnian international has Premier League experience and his return of 12 goals across the Serie A and the Champions League is impressive. At the age of 31, he would provide fierce competition to Morata and should be available for a reasonable fee.

Those two would be met with the most positivity by supporters as they have both proven themselves at a high level. Llorente is already carrying out a similar role at Tottenham and has performed well whenever he has had the chance. He would likely be used more at Chelsea, due to Morata not being as consistent as Harry Kane, but he would be good enough to do a job at Stamford Bridge.

However, it has been the other strikers being linked that have raised eyebrows. Sky Sports reported that Andy Carroll was a loan target for the club before his latest injury setback. Meanwhile, the Mirror report that Chelsea have made enquiries about Stoke City striker Peter Crouch.

Neither are Champions League level talents, but they are reliable players. It would be a disappointment if the club couldn’t secure better, but as squad players for a short-term basis, they could contribute. Their homegrown status coupled with prices would make them appealing as a stop-gap solution for Conte.

The desire to bring in a striker this month suggests that Conte is ready to cut ties with Batshuayi before the deadline. Dzeko would be his priority target as he could offer the most competition to Morata. However, if a deal can’t be agreed with Roma, which would be understandable considering how important the Bosnian is to their team, they will have to move down their list of targets.

Peter Crouch or Andy Carroll won’t set the world alight and there will be jokes made on social media if either were to sign. That said, it is encouraging to see a manager source targets based on profile rather than reputation. Chelsea don’t have to make major tactical changes to implement any one signing and the same can’t often be said about the rest of the top six.