ith Victor Osimhen looking closer and closer to PSG and Ivan Toney hardly impressing since a return from his gambling ban, Chelsea’s top striker options for the summer look to be narrowed down significantly.
Viktor Gyokeres is a little too old for our sporting directors, given they prefer under 23 players, which leaves just one of our main targets on the board – Benjamin Sesko.
The RB Leipzig striker looks increasingly like the option we will have at the top of our list, and that’s supported by a report from transfer insider Rudy Galetti. After Sesko grabbed his 8th goal of the Bundesliga season yesterday, Galetti Tweeted out that the forward is being “monitored” by Chelsea, along with Arsenal and Napoli.
⚽ Benjamin #Sesko, in yesterday’s match vs Freiburg, scored his 8th goal in the Bundesliga this season.
The ST – whose contract with #RBLeipzig, expiring in June 2028, has a €50m release clause – is monitored by top clubs such as #Chelsea, #Arsenal and #Napoli. pic.twitter.com/d8pwTsTzqH
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) April 7, 2024
8 goals in the Bundesliga is not a great return, nor is the 12 he has in all competitions. But if he was 20 and scoring a hatful, we’d already have been priced out of a deal. That’s the reality of being a Chelsea fan these days.
What we have to hope for is that he’s a player with the right raw materials that could be moulded into a top striker. Although given we’re already working on a “project” striker in Nicolas Jackson, we’re sure plenty will argue that a second one is not the best idea.
A €50m release clause for him at least means we won’t get dragged into any silly bidding wars. Our scouts have a couple of months left of this season to really figure out if he’s a big upgrade, and then it’s time to strike.