Last January, Chelsea were heavily linked with AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko.

In the end the Blues couldn’t get a deal over the line for the Bosnian international and instead they brought in French World Cup winner Olivier Giroud.

Almost a year on from the aborted transfer, should Chelsea resurrect the deal to bring Dzeko to Stamford Bride?

The striker himself left the door open to a Premier League return:

“Regarding the Premier League, maybe it’s too late,”

 

“You never know.” 

“I had four-and-a-half great years there, and had fun every minute of every game. I love the Premier League and England, so we’ll see. At the moment I’m happy in Rome.”

Well it really depends on what Maurizio Sarri wants from his main striker?

At the moment The Blues are flying high in the Premier League but it’s Belgian maestro Eden Hazard that’s firing in the team’s goals. Hazard has been given a free role under Sarri and he’s thriving, scoring seven goals in eight league games.

Then you look at the club’s two main centre-forwards, Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud, and between them they’ve scored just two in the English top flight this term.

Both of those strikes have come from Morata but it’s fair to say that the Spaniard still looks to be struggling in a Chelsea jersey. He looks devoid of much confidence and he’s not linking up brilliantly well with the rest of the attack. His shots per game ratio is at two, which is the same as full back Marcos Alonso and is less than Spanish wide-man Pedro.

Olivier isn’t even getting two shots off per game but tellingly his link-up play is much better than Morata’s. The strength and height of Giroud gives his team a good focal point up-top, he has won 2.3 headers per league fixture. He can bully defences and drag opponents away from central areas which creates pockets of space for fellow attackers. While the thirty-two year old hasn’t scored for The Blues so far this term, he has created four assists for teammates. He has a particularly strong partnership with Hazard and he seems to get the best out of the Belgian magician. Giroud is the type of forward that will sacrifice himself for the team and if that means that someone else will get the glory then so be it.

If Chelsea enter January and are still in the mix when it comes to challenging for the Premier League title, then Sarri has to wonder if he sticks with the strikers he has or does he go out and get someone who will add more goals to the frontline?

Former target Dzeko could be an ideal signing.

Like Giroud, the Bosnian gives you a physical presence up-front and he can also link-up well with the creative players playing in behind him. But unlike Olivier and Alvaro, the former Manchester City man should also give you more goals too.

This season, Edin has scored five times in his first nine appearances for the Giallorossi. His shots per game is up at 4.7 per Serie A appearance and his aerial duel ratio is at 3.9, higher than Giroud’s. His 79% passing success rate is also better than Chelsea’s two current hitmen. Edin can score inside and outside the box, with his head or with a pile-driver and he can also spot teammates and provide chances for them. He’s created two assists in his opening nine games and last season he created six.

Personally, I’d like the idea of having him and Giroud battling it out for the number nine shirt. Morata? I’d use the Spaniard as a makeweight and loan him out to Roma.

You start more often than not with Dzeko and then fling on Giroud to offer up another dynamic when the opposition tires.

One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be interesting to see if Maurizio Sarri believes his strikeforce needs to be improved and with what kind of hitman?

Posted on October 15th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article