Top 5 Strikers Who Could Be Perfect For Chelsea: Featuring Ex-Manchester United Goal Poacher And A Gabonese Speedster

Goals, that win teams games in the game of football, is something Chelsea have been lacking big time during the ongoing turbulence. Nothing seems to be going right for them, and goals are a subset of the element ‘nothing’. There have been instances in the past when even though a side doesn’t have the best of defences, they tend to outscore with the help of the attacking riches that they possess up front. And Chelsea, without a shadow of doubt, do have glittering attacking riches in their ranks but it’s not going right in any manner.

Diego Costa has been shambolic, he’s getting suspended, and if not that, he’s getting injured or playing as if he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Radamel Falcao has been a disappointment, quite a bit like how he fared during his stint at Old Trafford while Loic Remy doesn’t seem to give the impression of being the kind of goal getting striker that the Blues desperately need at the moment.

And it’s been in tatters, to be honest. And rightly so, the need for a goal-getting forward is dire. Someone who is good with his back to goal, to bring others into play and just as good when facing the goal, to score. And here are 5 strikers who would be fit for Chelsea to sign this winter.

 

5. Jamie Vardy: Leicester City

On the cusp of shattering Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring goals in 11 consecutive games, Jamie Vardy has been nothing short of a revelation. A reason for Leicester’s flying start to the campaign, Vardy leads the Premier League goalscoring charts with 12 goals. Vardy is 28 and Claudio Ranieri has made it clear that the club who buy him would’ve shell out a good amount of money to land him. Vardy’s specialty happens to be surprising work rate and his willingness to run around like a dog for the entire game, pressing the opposition and harrying defenders.

Much like Diego Costa, who never lets defenders have a moment of peace, Vardy is one hell of a maverick too. He’ll always keep the defenders on their toes and will try to do something or the other for his team to score. He’s got an exceptional burst of pace too, allowing him to race past defenders in straight forward duels as if they aren’t there. What remains to be seen is whether the Englishman would be good enough to play for a bigger club or not.

4. Paco Alcacer: Valencia CF

The 22-year-old Spaniard has been turning a lot of heads since coming into the limelight during the 2013-14 season. Paco has been a consistent performer for Nuno Santo’s men since then and has been getting goals for them rather consistently when given playing time after Roberto Soldado left for Spurs in 2013. He scored 11 times last season, which is impressive for a striker in his early 20’s and has scored 6 times already, with just 10 appearances to his name. And this suggests that his goal per game ratio is likely to rise, as he reaches his peak.

Reports are suggestive of Chelsea’s interest in the youngster and his keen eye for goal and off the ball movement is something that can trouble defenders on his day.

3. Javier Hernandez: Bayer Leverkusen

The former Manchester United star belongs to a rare breed of modern day goal poachers, who will get you goals whenever you need them. Being a Manchester United fan myself, I’m missing the Mexican a lot, not just his goals but his attitude towards the game and the team too. A willing runner in behind centre backs, Chicharito is a nippy and a very quick character, on the ball and off it too. He’ll be here for a moment and there the very next moment, making him a nightmare for the even the meanest defense in the world, take Atletico Madrid as an example from last season’s Champions League advancement. He’s got loads of desire for getting goals for his team if given time to play and can topple the defenders off their feet with his incisive off the ball movements. He may miss a few chances here and there, but he’ll score at critical moments of time.

The 27-year-old has scored 4 goals for Roger Schmidt’s men, despite of Leverkusen’s lack of a proper central midfield enforcer such as Gonzalo Castro. With Leverkusen in a concerning need of a goal scorer, the Die Werkself would demand a good amount of money for him if Mourinho does end up opting for the Mexican.

2. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang: Borussia Dortmund

Having drawn links with the Premier League duo of Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool in the past, Aubameyang tops the Bundesliga goal-scoring charts with 14 goals. He’s scored 4 times in the Europa League and has been pressing the opposition up front until they stifle to losing possession. The 26-year-old Gabonese forward has got a bit of everything, and the tag of ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ can well apply to him. The Gabonese Forward is arguably one of the fastest players in the world right now, he’s a very good passer too, much like the whole of the Dortmund side. And much like Vardy, Aubameyang would never stop giving defenders troubles, always trying to pull off something or the other.

Matching someone like Robert Lewandowski’s goal tally is never easy, especially when he was on fire- scoring twice, thrice or five times every game. But Tuchel’s stalwart has done that superbly indeed. He’s hinted at a move to Barcelona, but a move to Chelsea would be something he wouldn’t be able to resist by any means.

1. Antoine Griezmann: Atletico Madrid

Here’s a man who’s been tipped for achieving better things in the future already, at the mere age of 24 and it seems he’s coming to achieving them already. A key player for Los Rojiblancos already, Griezmann is just as complete a forward as Vardy or Aubemayang. Although, a better play maker or someone who knows how to pick passes slightly better than them, Antoine has assumed the form of a vital entity in the Simeone’s side since arriving from Real Sociedad 2 seasons ago. At San Sebastian, the then 22-year-old was more a player who hugged the touchline more often and liked to do his bit from wide areas but he has become a more well-rounded player since moving to the Calderon. And under estimating him due to a diminutive size, can be a regrettable blunder.

He’s scored five times, assisting twice and provides the Atleti attack with an impetus of youth, energy, acceleration and creativity, which is something Chelsea well and truly need right now.