Chelsea are on the lookout for a new striker ahead of next season and could match Arsenal for at least one of their prospects targets strengthen forward.
The Blues have improved considerably since last season, but still lack a prolific ‘nine’, with Diego Costa in 2016/17. who was the last centre-forward to score 20 goals in the Premier League.
Nicolas Jackson managed a respectable 14 in the 2023/24 season, and has another nine just over halfway through this campaign. But the Senegal international has not scored since before Christmas, and he was barely involved in Monday night’s win over Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
The Times notes that Chelsea are “considering” Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after already talking to the Serie A giants about the possibility of signing the unsettled Renato Veiga.
Vlahović has 12 goals in all competitions so far this season, making him Juve’s top scorer to some extent. But his time in Turin since his €80m move from Fiorentina three years ago has been a failure, while Randal Kolo Muani is expected to join him soon on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
By selling the Serbian international before next season, cash-conscious Juve could also avoid the agreed wage increase that will start in the summer, when he will already be their biggest earner.
Arsenal they were interested in Vlahovic in January 2022 and lost out to Juventus. But even though the Gunners still haven’t got a real striker, The Times adds that they are not on his heels now.
However, another striker that Arsenal should be chasing is Benjamin Sesko. The front man of RB Leipzig signed a new long-term contract with a salary increase last summer, but with understanding that he would be allowed to move on in 2025.
Arsenal’s interest in the Slovenian is well-founded and there have been rumors that they could do so in recent days speed up the approach for him given the loss of Gabriel Jesus to injury. The problem for them may be that Chelsea are also believed to be keeping an eye on Cesko.
Sky Sport CH it is written that the Blues have recently initiated contact with RB Leipzig, after they had already been in contact with the player’s representatives, but their intention would be to complete the summer transfer, and not for Šeško to move to London now. Leipzig would sell for €80m (£68m).
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