Chelsea in need of attacking additions

On Tuesday night, Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham limped off during the Blues 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal. The injury could prove to be a big blow to their chances of keeping hold of their spot in the top-four of the Premier League.

After the game, Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard admitted that the Blues are attempting to bring in a new forward in the January transfer window. He did say that he couldn’t guarantee that they would manage it, though.

Blues in a catch-22 situation

Chelsea are in a catch-22 situation at the minute. The Blues have Abraham and he is the undisputed first-choice striker. That means when he is fit then he will stay in the team or return to the team depending on his absence.

The situation will not change unless the Blues bring an absolutely world-class striker. However, there are not many of those about. Therefore, any striker who comes in has to be good enough to challenge Abraham, but also willing to play back-up to the youngster. There are few players out there who match that criteria.

Tottenham have a similar situation with Harry Kane. The England international is injured and they are short of attacking cover. However, they have not made a move for a striker, as there are so few options out there.

Current crop not great

There is a reason that Abraham is the first-choice striker at Chelsea. Quite simply he is better than the alternatives, who are French striker Olivier Giroud and Belgium international Michy Batshuayi. Neither player is ever going to be the Blues first-choice striker in the long-term.

Giroud arrived as a back-up striker, similar to the role he played in the dying embers of his Arsenal career. The 33-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Italian giants Inter, with Aston Villa also reported to hold an interest in the French striker. In reality, he is coming to the end of his Chelsea career.

However, the Abraham injury could mean he stays with the capital club. It is quite clear now that he not up to the task of playing for a top team anymore.

The other option is Batshuayi, who has spent the majority of his career either out on loan or sitting on the Chelsea bench. In his younger years, he was a player with supposed bags full of potential.

He is 26 now and there is a reason why he is not Chelsea’s first-choice striker, he is simply not good enough to play for the Blues on a regular basis. A record of eight goals in 48 Premier League appearances for Chelsea is underwhelming, even if many of those appearances were from the substitutes bench.

Chelsea in a relatively comfortable position

Hopefully, for Chelsea sake, Abraham’s injury is not a serious one and he is back in the near future. Luckily enough, the Blues are currently fourth place and in a relative position of comfort when it comes to finishing in the Premier League’s top-four.

The Blues are currently odds of 8/15 to finish in the Champions League spots this season. They are currently six points clear of the chasing pack. However, a serious injury to their main striker and scorer of goals will highly dangerous to their chances of a Champions League place.

Chelsea will no doubt looking to add a new striker to their squad before the January transfer window closes. It could prove to be the difference between elite football next season or not for the Blues.

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