According to a recent report by The Sun, Premier League giants Chelsea are claimed to be on the lookout for a striker in the winter transfer market, with the names of AC Milan star Krzysztof Piatek and PSG veteran Edinson Cavani being linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. The report suggests that Chelsea are keen on acquiring a forward player to take some of the burden off the shoulders of young Englishman Tammy Abraham.
It has been suggested that Frank Lampard has now begun to pressure the Chelsea board about finding some attacking reinforcements, with goalkeeping legend Petr Cech and director extraordinaire Marina Granovskaia acting as direct points of contact to the manager. The gaffer is said to have made it clear to them that a striker is necessary for them to be able to keep the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United at bay until the end of the season.
Understanding The Requirement
Lampard has already tried using Michy Batshuayi up top in Abraham’s absence this season, and his inconsistency is something that just can’t seem to be shrugged off. The Blues need a player who can not only score goals when the Englishman is being rested but also challenge the youngster for the starting position in the first team. Increasing the competition is only going to help bring the best out of everyone involved, and that is something that Lampard has identified too.
The Options
Edinson Cavani
The 32-year-old former Napoli star has quite the reputation as a goalscorer but hasn’t been utilised as well as possible at the overpopulated Parc De Princes this season. The Uruguayan international has scored goals consistently wherever he’s gone, and his scoring record is the stuff of European footballing legend as well. Despite being on the wrong side of his thirties, the PSG man could well be the hardworking centre-forward that Frank Lampard’s team has been lacking in recent months.
Krzysztof Piatek
Young Polish international forward Krzysztof Piatek has been a sensation in the Serie A after he broke into the league through the Genoa first-team. After being quickly snapped up by AC Milan last season, he went on a scoring romp but has struggled to replicate that form this time around. The 24-year-old is a tall striker who boasts excellent instincts as well as reactions in the final third. Renowned for his finishing, the youngster has the potential to take this Chelsea front-line to the next level.
The Verdict
As good as the deal for the Polish international sounds, it would make more sense for the Blues to move for Edinson Cavani, considering that it would financially work out a lot cheaper. The London club have a history of making poor decisions in the January window, and signing another unproven youngster with the hope of eventual results could prove to be a fatal mistake.
Getting 32-year-old Cavani on a short term deal while using the rest of the season to analyse the available strikers in European football would be a smart decision by the Blues. One thing’s for sure – Edinson Cavani will score goals, and to be fair, that’s the only thing Lampard can ask for, given the situation this Chelsea team currently find themselves in.
