EPL: Pochettino confirms Chelsea are searching for new striker
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino has disclosed that they are still in the market for a new striker.
The Blues have already signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, but appear thin on the ground at present.
Nkunku and fellow attacker Armando Broja are currently on the sidelines with injuries and with Romelu Lukaku likely to head for the exit door this summer, it means that Pochettino is short of options in attack.
That lack of potency in front of goal was clear to see during the 3-1 defeat to West Ham with midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka getting Chelsea’s goal at the London Stadium.
With a lack of goals clearly a concern, Pochettino admitted to being in the market for reinforcements, but suggests that he doesn’t know if they’ll be able to bring someone in.
Pochettino who outlined the need for Chelsea to get a new striker after a defeat to West Ham on Sunday, August 20, said;
“It is a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja but they are injured. It is not easy in this moment to find the right profile. We are in the process, working to see if we can add some players in this area.
“But it is a job that is not easy for the club. For sure, they are working really hard to add some players.
“If it is not possible, we need to wait until Nkunku and Broja will be ready and we have the help of Mason [Burstow].
“I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances that we created, we need to be more clinical. It is not only the strikers that need to be clinical in front of goal.”
Chelsea had been linked with a move for French striker Elye Wahi, who decided to remain in France and sign for last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up Lens.
The Blues are also believed to be interested in signing USA international Folarin Balogun from Premier League rivals Arsenal. Balogun, who is valued at £50m by Arsenal, enjoyed a successful loan spell with Reims last season, racking up 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 matches.
