Let’s face it, scoring goals is as pivotal to football as a great plot is to a thriller. It makes up for 80% of the sport’s premise directed towards the end result of a match-up. That’s why strikers and forwards in the game are treated like the protagonists in a film. They are the talismans responsible for getting Oscars, Sorry! goals, double-whammies and even hat-tricks to make their clubs win games. All the managers heading big clubs are constantly on the watch for exciting finishers who have both, the knack for scoring goals when needed and the attitude to handle all the attention from the media and the fans like a boss. Basically, they’re the heroes of the game who go down in the books as one of the greatest footballers of all time to lead an even more flamboyant lifestyle post-retirement. For those who are not on the same page, check out updates on Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy and others. You’d agree with me, buck for buck. Strikers are the stars of a line-up and they must be competitive at all times.
To follow Chelsea’s on-and-off relationship with the club’s strikers since the Shevchenko-Drogba days to Torres to Falcao and Diego Costa, the Blues have liteally seen it all. Presently, they hold their ranks in a weirdly functional assortment of Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao, Loïc Rémy, Bertrand Traoré and Alexandre Pato. Out of these five strikers, Falcao and Pato are on loan at Stamford Bridge. Diego Costa is Guus Hiddink’s premier spearhead and Rémy is valued at £14m by Chelsea’s board, Traoré is proving out to be the surprising go-to man for the Blues. In order of preference, Costa comes first followed by an under-performing Rémy, rusty Falcao, young Traoré and an aloof Pato.
Seemingly, Diego Costa could and does get the points for Chelsea more often than all other four combined in an attacking line-up that also showcases Hazard, Oscar, Fabregas, Willian and Matic to save the show.
Going down the memory lane at Stamford Bridge, strikers like Eto’o, Drogba, Torres (initially), Ba brought out a lot of the Blues’ character while creating goal-scoring chances up front. That kind of approach seems to be lacking in the current offensive draft of Guus Hiddink’s side. Not that they haven’t been trying, not that Chelsea’s been losing too, the crux of the matter lies in getting another front man in the blue jersey who competes with Costa fiercely and starts a bit of an internal rivalry which would only be healthy for the club in the days to come.
As per reports, Chelsea will keep Rémy as back-up to Diego Costa, as long as an agent or club doesn’t offer the west London side a Champions League level striker who’s an improvement on the scarcely used 29-year-old. The ex-QPR man has had a number of muscle strains and knocks since he moved to England in 2012, casting doubt over whether he can be reliable back-up to Diego Costa. Remy has started just one Premier League match this season, making it just past the hour mark before getting swapped with the even more disappointing Radamel Falcao. Falcao does not look capable of scoring goals for Goa FC, let alone Chelsea. Falcao is Falcao just like Torres is Torres. Once upon a time, a brilliant star, now in strikers’ shambles. Also, Pato’s been chilling on the bench.
Bertrand Traoré has been quite the star, lately, having scored from 20 yards in only his second start for the Blues. The 20-year-old grabbed the opportunity with both hands scoring a goal and earning his chance to lead Chelsea’s attack, according to interim boss Guus Hiddink as he was selected ahead of Loïc Rémy and Alexandre Pato up front when they drew 1-1 with Stoke at home in the Premier League in the absence of Diego Costa, who was rested due to a minor tendon injury.
Falcao looks nothing like the player he once was anymore, so to expecting anything more than the odd goal here or there from him seems hopeful. So when Costa doesn’t score, who do Chelsea turn to?
New players will be top of the agenda with Guus Hiddink’s successor, Italy boss Antonio Conte is the front-runner for the job and has a list of potential targets. Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi is on Conte’s radar as a potential No9 and the Italian giants will demand £35m. The Argentinian striker has been watched regularly by Conte and is seen as the ideal man to compete with Diego Costa for a starting place.
The Blues are also considering Anderlecht midfielder Youri Tielemans. The 18-year-old is seen as one for the future and Belgian pal Eden Hazard could play a part in persuading him to come to Chelsea — if he stays at Stamford Bridge.
Furthermore, Chelsea is plotting a stunning striker swap deal for PSG’s goal machine, Edi Cavani. The 29-year-old has his heart set on a move to England after three seasons in France. And Roman Abramovich is so desperate to sign the Uruguayan, he’s willing to give up his first-choice striker. If it is to happen, it would take a lot of negotiations but would be one heck of a remarkable move from Abramovich, Hiddink and possibly Antonio Conte being credited.
For a fact, Costa had a torrid start to the season under Jose Mourinho but has started to emulate last year’s success under interim boss Guus Hiddink. The way we see it, Chelsea’s five man frontline is full of Costa and needs an addition to fight for a start which in a way helps Chelsea to offload one or two strikers as well.