Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney should move in the summer but Chelsea want a striker NOW... and could plump for a Bundesliga star in ruthless form or return to former Serie A target

The Blues were typically wasteful in front of goal during their 1-0 loss to Boro SAMI MOKBEL: Chelsea reach for the chequebook (again) to stop the bleeding CHRIS SUTTON: Chelsea's progress is too slow... they won't be like a fine wine until they spend AGAIN - It's All Kicking Off

Mauricio Pochettino was loath to heap criticism on the players that featured for Chelsea’s miserable 1-0 defeat against Middlesbrough in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, but when reviewing the tie, there was one aspect of their performance where he refused to mince words.

‘If we assess the performance, overall we were the better side, we create more chances, we have clear chances,’ the beleaguered manager said after the final whistle.

‘But we didn’t score and we were not clinical and that has happened a lot this season – so many games we didn’t win because we weren’t clinical enough.’

Profligacy in front of goal has been one of the stories of Chelsea’s incredibly inconsistent campaign, and Cole Palmer’s three clear-cut chances on Tuesday evening at the Riverside typified the wastefulness the Blues have shown – to the detriment of their league standing.

What Chelsea really need is a confident No 9, but neither Armando Broja returning from injury, or the haphazard Nicolas Jackson – currently away with Senegal at AFCON – have been up to the task, with Palmer sitting at the summit of their top scorers’ table.

Mauricio Pochettino savaged his side’s ability in front of goal after defeat to Middlesbrough

Cole Palmer was particularly wasteful at the Riverside in the Blues’ Carabao Cup semi-final

Armando Broja (left) and Nicolas Jackson (centre left) have not been reliable striking options

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Christopher Nkunku has spent most of the season injured, Deivid Washington has made just two appearances off the bench, and recalled forward David Datro Fofana is poised to swap a loan spell at Union Berlin with one at Sevilla.

Needless to say, the answer, despite Chelsea’s seemingly unlimited spending over the last two windows, likely lies in the market.

Here, Mail Sport runs the rule over potential options who could make the move – and transform the west London club’s fortunes for the remainder of the season.

Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)

The powers that be at Stamford Bridge have flirted with the Serbian striker as recently as last summer, when speculation grew over whether Romelu Lukaku would swap Milan for Turin for another season in Serie A.

It seemed like a fitting trade: Chelsea would offload a player more akin to a man held hostage by his own poor decision-making two summers’ earlier, and the Blues would in turn receive a tried-and-tested top-flight goalscorer.

Since his move to Juventus from Fiorentina in 2022, the 23-year-old has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances, making an additional eight assists. This season, the striker has netted seven times with two assists in 17 Serie A appearances, compared to Jackson’s eight in 23 – a consistent haul.

Vlahovic’s comparative experience for his age is also a promising consideration for the club, who are thought to still have the player under consideration. This week, Simon Phillips reported that the Chelsea hierarchy have held internal talks over the suitability, after failing to meet Vlahovic’s price tag in the summer.

Dusan Vlahovic hasn’t met the high standards he set at Fiorentina but could yet achieve more away from Juventus

Still mired in their own financial difficulties, Juventus are thought to be interested in offloading Vlahovic for the right price – in part for reasons that might concern potential buyers. The Turin club is believed to be frustrated that the Serbian has been unable to recapture the blistering form on display during his earlier stint at Fiorentina. Only Napoli’s Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has missed more ‘big chances’ in Serie A this season.

But an exit from Juventus could yet unblock Vlahovic, who is also subject to interest by a major Blues rival, Arsenal.

With two-and-half years left on his deal, however, both Premier League sides could yet miss out. Vlahovic revealed that his agent is in talks with the club over a new deal in December, and stressed that he was ‘honoured’ to play at Juventus and ‘very happy’ he had stayed after the summer window closed.

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) 

Whilst Vlahovic could represent one of the easier targets for the Blues if the club decides to strike, Gyokeres could be one of the harder options to dislodge.

Last year the Swedish international tore up the Championship, pushing Coventry City towards the promotion play-off final and ending the year on a personal tally of 21 league goals and 10 assists.

A move to Sporting followed swiftly, and Gyokeres has showed no signs of slowing down with his step up to the European top-flight. The second-highest scoring player in the Primeira Liga, with 11 goals in 15 games, the 25-year-old has scored nine more across the Portuguese club’s other competitions, including three Europa League goals.

Viktor Gyokeres has only just arrived in Portugal but has already set the Primeira Liga alight

A steal at just £20million in the summer – a club record for the Sky Blues – Sporting will want much more to part with a lynchpin member of their attack. But Chelsea has been circling, with the Portuguese side only interested if the Blues can pay a reported £87m release clause.

Much like potential target Ivan Toney, the price tag attached to Gyokeres could see him brought to Stamford Bridge in the summer off the back of player sales at the club to fund the move.

But for Gyokeres’ part, he is keen in staying in Portugal and continuing in his rich vein of form.

‘I’m enjoying every day here and not thinking about what’s going on around me,’ Gyokeres said in December. ‘Yes, there’s talk of big clubs, but for now it’s just news. That’s all.’

Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)

When Feyenoord won the Eredivisie in May for only the second time in the club’s history, it was with the 22-year-old Mexican striker as the sharp prong in their attack, and Gimenez has been no less ruthless this season.

Netting a hat-trick in an explosive, disjointed Der Klassieker against Ajax in September, the prodigal goal force has gone on to score a jaw-dropping 16 times in his 18 league performances this campaign, finding time to fit in four additional goal contributions.

Gimenez’s prolific metrics would no doubt make many a Chelsea scout’s mouth water, and his youth also endears him to the Blues’ future-looking transfer policy of late. But with his eye-catching talent comes a number of rivals.

Tottenham, West Ham, and Arsenal are all thought to be interested in the striker, although Spurs’ ardour may have cooled after securing a loan move for Chelsea flop Timo Werner this week.

Santiago Gimenez has been in blistering form for Feyenoord after winning the Eredivisie

But Feyenoord will be hesitant to let go of a player in such confident form, particularly one whose contract is currently set to end in 2026. But with a reported price tag believed to be around £30m, Gimenez would represent a comparatively cheaper option for Pochettino’s side.

Borja Mayoral (Getafe)

Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood may have been getting the lion’s share of the headlines in a Getafe shirt – for reasons both on the pitch and off – but the LaLiga side’s promising campaign has also been spurred by Mayoral, who moved to the club after an initial loan spell from Roma in 2022.

A graduate of Real Madrid’s academy, the Spaniard has been in impressive form in royal blue, scoring 12 LaLiga goals, and a further two goals during Getafe’s Copa del Rey campaign.

As has become a theme, Arsenal – also in desperate need of greater firepower up front – have made enquiries about the 26-year-old, and tabled an initial offer worth an estimated £22m.

Getafe are thought to be mulling the possibility of letting the forward go in January, but are holding out for a far bigger price tag, closer to £39m.

Real Madrid academy graduate Borja Mayoral is second only to Jude Bellingham in LaLiga

But could it be worth it? In a competitive league, only Los Blancos wonderboy Jude Bellingham has scored more than Mayoral.

The Blues could also be cheered by Mayoral’s hardiness, which has seen him rarely troubled by injury throughout his career. However, knowing Chelsea’s luck, that could come to a swift halt was he to step through the doors at Cobham.

Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) 

One of the tougher transfers to get over the line, Solanke has been in supreme goalscoring form in a revitalised Cherries side under Andoni Iraola. After an uncertain start to the season, Bournemouth now sit 12th, thanks in no small part to the club’s top scorer.

Solanke has scored 13 goals in 22 appearances this season, to the increasing interest of a number of Premier League rivals, including Newcastle.

The English striker’s Premier League experience is his most valuable asset, and something that few of Chelsea’s attacking targets can bring to the table. Hitting the ground running in January is non-negotiable, and Solanke would be ideally poised to slot right in at Stamford Bridge.

It would also make for a poignant return – Solanke started in Chelsea’s under-nine side and stayed at the club until 2017, although he made no senior appearances for the Blues despite making the bench a handful of times. Returning to the club with a point to prove could further inspire the striker.

But if Chelsea do intend to tempt the attacker to the capital, they might have to wait until the summer. Newcastle are thought to have made their own enquiries and been firmly rebuffed by Iraola’s side.

Dominic Solanke has been a vital presence for Bournemouth – who won’t let go of him lightly

Ivan Toney (Brentford) 

The race for Toney’s signature has been bubbling since the summer window, despite the Brentford striker still having months left on his suspension for illegal gambling.

And there has been no waning of interest in the England international, with the prospect of his return to Premier League action this month only intensifying speculation that he might be spending the remainder of the season at Arsenal or Chelsea.

But a number of factors are likely to force both clubs from handing Toney a shirt for a few more months yet, most notably his price tag. Brentford are in a strong position to demand a fee at the very top of the market for their player, and either Chelsea or Arsenal will have to cough up close to £100m secure his services.

For Chelsea, that may mean moving on some players, such as homegrown talent Conor Gallagher, who has been heavily linked with Tottenham, which they may not be in a position to do during the January window.

Toney is also thought to be keen to help Brentford see out the season in a strong position after receiving the club’s full support during his suspension.

Ivan Toney remains a priority target for a number of Premier League sides as he prepares to return to action

Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)

Currently preparing for AFCON with Guinea, the Bundesliga forward has been eye-wateringly efficient in front of goal this season, and was the striker to bring his current form to Chelsea, Guirassy could well transform the Blues’ campaign.

The Senegalese attacker has scored 17 times in just 14 league appearances since the start of the season, and twice in his two German Cup matches, putting him at third in the European standings for top goalscorer this season. Being ahead of every forward except for Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe is no mean feat.

Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy could prove a bargain due to his comparatively low release clause

But most shockingly of all is Guirassy’s price tag. The striker could be available to the right club for as little as £15m, the release clause noted in his contract with the Bundesliga side.

Premier League interest has been feverish, with Man United the most ardent admirers of the forward. Tottenham were thought to be Guirassy’s top choice, however – but the move for Werner may have complicated the north London’s side swoop during the January window. Fulham are also keen on Guirassy to bolster their attacking ranks.

Those tracking the 27-year-old – who may be a little older than Chelsea’s preferred targets – received a boost this week from Stuttgart’s sporting director Fabian Wohlgemut, who suggested that a January move couldn’t be ruled out for the absent player.

Wohlgemut described the club’s strategy around offers for his player as ‘not to hope, fear and keep our fingers crossed’.

Victor Osimhen (Napoli) 

The Nigerian striker has become Chelsea’s white whale, a player never far from the top of a potential shopping list over the past few windows.

Victor Osimhen has had a torrid season at Napoli after winning a historic Scudetto in May

After winning the Scudetto at the end of last season and busting a slew of Serie A records, Osimhen has showed no signs of slowing down, scoring seven in his 13 league appearances this term.

But this season has been beset with controversy, from disagreements with head coaches to club hierarchy, and most recently, a spat between the player and the agent of his team-mate Kvaratskhelia. Despite signing a bumper new contract with Napoli in December, there’s a growing sense that Osimhen might want to feature as far away as possible from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the very near future.

However, as that might be music to the ears of the Chelsea hierarchy, Napoli will be unwilling to let their striker – now contracted until 2026 – go without a hefty fee.

The striker is rated at approximately £112m, and depending on movement over the summer, that number could yet increase.