When Chelsea sold star striker Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017, the Blues looked to have found the ideal replacement in Spanish striker Alvaro Morata. The striker had won numerous trophies at Real Madrid and Juventus, scoring crucial goals in his career.

However, he never really nailed down a starting role anywhere until a move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea was supposed to be his chance to prove he could be a starting striker for a top European team. Unfortunately, it has not quite worked out that way for the striker.

Chelsea strikers have endured mixed fortunes of late

Morata has endured mixed fortunes of late, as has teammate Olivier Giroud, who joined the Blues last January from Arsenal. Both have had good games and scored the odd goal. Morata did manage to net a brace on Saturday in a 2-0 FA Cup third round victory over Nottingham Forest. However, the goals did little quell rumours of a January exit for the Spanish striker.

However, both have endured performances that have led to question marks over whether either are good enough to lead the Chelsea attack. In fact, in recent games, Blues boss Maurizio Sarri has employed Eden Hazard as a false number nine.

Neither Giroud nor Morata look to be the sort of forward Sarri wants to lead his Chelsea team. That could mean big changes in the near future with the January window now open.

Linked with new strikers

Chelsea have understandably been continually linked with new striking additions due to their current crop of strikers failing to make the grade. The two names most heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge are PSG’s Edinson Cavani and Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson.

Cavani has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and his Napoli connections have led to obvious rumours linking him with a link-up with former boss Sarri in London.

The Uruguayan international has been one of the most prolific strikers in the European game in the last decade. A reportedly frosty relationship with high-profile PSG teammate Neymar has fuelled rumours of an exit from the Parisian club.

He is no doubt the sort of goal poacher that would thrive in a team like Chelsea’s, who are missing a penalty area predator.

Wilson is a player who has flourished at Bournemouth this season after a couple of nightmare injuries earlier in his career. The England international has scored nine times in the Premier League and also produced eight assists. At nearly 27 years of age, he is a slightly late developer. However, the former Coventry striker has shown he has the finishing abilities needed to make it at the top level of the game.

Strikers on loan

Chelsea may or may not sign a striker in the January transfer window. However, the Blues also have to very highly-rated strikers out on loan at Aston Villa and Valencia in the shape of Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi.

Both players could be heading back to the Premier League in the current window,  but not to their parent club as some Blues fans had called for. Abraham looks set to cut short his time with Villa to join rivals Wolves on loan.

Meanwhile, Batshuayi is being linked with a move to Crystal Palace, who decided not to pursue an interest in Dominic Solanke, who recently joined Bournemouth instead. Batshuayi has struggled to make his mark with Valencia, which may facilitate a move back to the English top-flight.

Despite a collection of non-fitting strikers, Chelsea are still one of the favourites to qualify for the Champions League this season. However, if boss Maurizio Sarri is going to take the Blues to the next level, there is a feeling that the Blues will need to recruit a truly top striker to make the step up to title challengers once again.

Will Chelsea sign a new striker in the January transfer window?