Chelsea are clinging onto fourth place in the Premier League after 25 matches. The Blues have Sheffield United breathing down their necks in the race for Champions League qualification but do have a game in hand thanks to the Blades playing last weekend. Chelsea benefitted from the Premier League’s first-ever winter break and could use the rest to extend their four-point lead over the Blades in round 26.
The Blues’ inability to sign a forward in the January transfer window could be detrimental to the club in the race for Champions League qualification. Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all chasing the Blues as well. A six-point gap separates eighth-placed Manchester United and ninth-placed Wolves with Chelsea.
Frank Lampard will have to wait until the summer to sign a new forward to power the side and give Tammy Abraham competition. The last two transfer windows have seen Chelsea as sellers and record profits brought into the club due to selling players. In 2019, the club recorded record profits of £60 million. Although those profits have since been turned into losses, the club will be out to sign a forward in the summer.
Fantasysports.co.uk takes a look at 3 potential players that could land at Chelsea and score goals. Fantasy Premier League managers can explore just how these players could do at Chelsea under the management of Lampard.
Raul Jimenez – Wolverhampton Wanderers
https://twitter.com/AbsoluteChelsea/status/1226541760098250754
When Wolverhampton Wanderers signed Raul Jimenez on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2018, it flew under the radar. He had struggled to make the grade at Benfica and Atletico, and few would have thought the striker could make a big impact at Molineux. However, an impact is just what Jimenez has made.
Jimenez has 20 goals and nine assists in 38 games in all competitions this season. His goals have powered Wolves into Champions League qualification contention and the last 32 of the Europa League. He bullies defenders and links up well with wide players looking to cross the ball. Chelsea have Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic who can play crosses into the box.
Jimenez has scored 24 goals since joining Wolves in 2018. Six of those are headed goals. Abraham has scored with his head three times.
Edinson Cavani – PSG
The huge wages in the Premier League was not enough…
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 6, 2020
Paris Saint-Germain are through with striker Edinson Cavani. Yet, they were not will to let him go in January. Why? Champions League rivals Chelsea and Atletico Madrid both wanted him. So, rather than take the cash, PSG decided to keep him until the summer to prevent Cavani from potentially scoring goals against them in the Champions League.
Chelsea could get Cavani for free, which is the best way to get him. He turns 33 this month and though he is still a great marksman, it will be difficult for Cavani to get up to the pace and play of the Premier League. Ligue 1 is often criticised for its play and this season Arsenal signing Nicolas Pepe has struggled to come to grips with the league. An ageing Cavani could do the same.
Cavani has played just 16 times for PSG this season scoring six goals. He is worth a punt on a free transfer thanks to his goalscoring past.
Moussa Dembele – Lyon
https://twitter.com/_ryanrowe/status/1226618555648659459
It is reported that Lyon’s Moussa Dembele is on the club’s radar. At just 23, Dembele offers Chelsea a forward for the coming years. While Cavani is nearing the end of his illustrious career, Dembele is entering his prime years.
Dembele has 13 goals in 23 Ligue matches. However, his big issue was the goose egg in the Champions League, which could put the Blues off him in the end. Dembele scored zero Champions League goals in six appearances.
That aside, Dembele is an exceptional talent. He has already played in England with Fulham where he spent three seasons after coming through the academy. In the 2015-16 Championship season, Dembele scored 17 goals in 46 games. His move to Celtic led to more goals with 51 in 94 matches in all competitions.
Since moving to Lyon in 2018, he has been stellar and is about to record a second straight season of 20 goals or more in all competitions. Did I mention he is only 23?