According to a recent report by Football.London, Premier League giants Chelsea are in the market for a new striker to compete with Tammy Abraham next season. It is claimed in the report that the Blues have both Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele in their current short-list. A further report from Spanish publication Sport has clarified that the Blues are also interested in Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, which makes their search criteria quite apparent to see.
What Are The Linked Striker’s Current Situations?
Moussa Dembele
The Lyon striker has been on the Blues target list since before the winter window and with good reason. The former Celtic and Fulham youngster has the invaluable experience of having played in England in the past. He is a physical centre-forward who likes to bully defenders with his strength and movement in the final third. A sharp finisher as well, the Frenchman has a good three years left on his current contract, which could be a stumbling block.
Timo Werner
The German international speedster is a different kind of striker to Dembele, as he depends on his pace and flair to beat defenders and find the path to goal. Capable of playing down the middle or even as a winger, thanks to his explosive speed, the youngster tends to be a sharp finisher in the box, as can be seen from his numbers in the league this season. Werner is also contracted to RB Leipzig till the end of the 2023 league term though.
Lautaro Martinez
One of the most sought-after name in European football at the moment, 22-year-old Lautaro Martinez has been nothing short of a sensation for Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan side this season. The youngster has been ripping defenders apart with his pace as well as the ability to time runs in behind. Possibly the deadliest finisher of the three despite being the youngest, Martinez too, is contracted to Inter till the end of the 2022/23 league campaign.
Statistical Breakdown
Moussa Dembele
The Frenchman is probably the striker that is best suited to this Chelsea side, owing largely to the fact that Dembele is much more of a physical presence than the other two in question. At just over two shots per game though, the youngster does seem to be lagging behind Werner and Martinez. With less than one successful dribble and key pass to boast as well, Dembele does look the most underwhelming on paper. Despite this, the youngster has scored 16 goals in 24 league starts this season, and continues to be a prominent figure in Ligue 1.
Timo Werner
The speedster is a very different striker to the other two in question here, owing mainly to the fact that he also doubles up as a winger. Capable of dribbling past people as a proper winger would, this centre-forward has bagged 31 goals from 48 appearances across all competitions this season. The German international averages just under four shots per fixture, while his two successful dribbles every game is a good indicator of his skill set. A small concern though, will be the fact that the youngster takes almost three poor touches in every match.
Lautaro Martinez
The 22-year-old has been in fine form since the start of the season and that been highlighted in his scoring record this term, which reads 12 goals and three assists from 22 Serie A appearances. The forward’s attacking figures are a whole different ball game altogether. The youngster averages a little over four shots every game, while he’s fouled at least twice in every fixture that he plays. With good dribbles completed figure as well, Martinez does seem like a good option on paper.
Who Should Lampard Move For In The Summer?
One thing that can be said with certainty is that Moussa Dembele, with his numbers, perhaps doesn’t have the quality required to perform at the highest level. Between Werner and Martinez though, the Blues would have to opt for the Argentine. For all the positive attributes that Werner does possess, he just seems to be more of a creative source than a potent goalscorer, especially in the physical nature of the Premier League. All things considered, Lampard would do well to beat the likes of Barcelona and sign up Lautaro Martinez in the summer.
