Chelsea have been linked with a host of big strikers with Premier League experience during this transfer window.

Names such as Ashely Barnes, Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll and Islam Slimani have all been mentioned in the gossip columns and it’s fair to say that those particular players have been met with apathy amongst the Chelsea support.

The English champions have also been heavily linked with Roma frontman Edin Dzeko and, for me, that’s the the best option for Antonio Conte.

Dzeko has previous experience in England, having starred for Manchester City in four and a half seasons before he moved to Rome. During his stay at the Etihad, Edin banged in fifty league goals in 130 appearances.

In Serie A, he’s played in eighty-seven games for I Giallarossi and notched up forty-six strikes. This term he has bagged twelve goals in twenty six starts. He also managed a brace against Chelsea in the Champions League back in October.

Like the other names that have been mentioned during this transfer window, Edin is  a target-man type  and that definitely seems to be what Conte is looking for. The majority of Alvaro Morata’s goals have came from his head, so it makes sense to have another forward in the squad who can hold the ball up and who is very good in the air. What Dzeko gives you that the others don’t is more goals. He is lethal in the penalty area. He is also good with his link-up play and creating assists for others.

The striker is also pretty consistent and healthy, unlike Andy Carroll. Plus he has a good record in European competition too. The thirty-one year old’s game would certainly suit Chelsea’s style!

A stumbling block could be persuading the Bosnian to make the move from being a club’s number one striker to being a back-up at Stamford Bridge.

While I understand those concerns the forward might have about game-time, it should be noted that there should be plenty of minutes on the park for the Bosnian if he did decided to move to London.

When discussing Morata’s current poor form in front of goal, Conte stated:

‘But don’t forget for Alvaro this is the first time he’s played regularly because he didn’t play regularly with Juventus or Real Madrid.’

To be honest, Morata at times this season has looked like a striker in desperate need of a rest. In his last ten outings the Spaniard has only managed to complete ninety minutes on three occasions.

Edin would be cup-tied for the Champions League but that could mean he plays in the domestic games before and/or after the big midweek fixtures. That rotation should help the Blues chances in all competitions for the remainder of the campaign.

Having that strong Plan B option would re-energise Chelsea for the second half of the season.

If Chelsea and Conte can persuade Edin Dzeko that they have an ambitious project that he can play a key part in, then they could bring in a top forward who will only benefit the club’s run-in. His presence could also see a rejuvenated Alvaro Morata in a Blues shirt!

 

Posted on January 22nd, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article