Does Chelsea need to sign another striker this summer?

Anzhi and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is being linked with a big money move to Chelsea

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been brought back to Stamford Bridge in an effort to repeat the trophy-laden days of his first spell.

Arguably his teams now play more expansive football than the Blues did when they were winning Premier League titles.

Promising

Mourinho’s presence coupled with a very promising squad means that Chelsea are looking very strong this season.

The squad that the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo have helped create is one full of players in their prime, as well as some older more experienced heads.

The only thing that seems to be missing from the group is a striker to finish off all the hard work done by the three amigos Eden Hazard, Oscar and Juan Mata.

Strikers

It would be remiss of me to say that Chelsea has not got any decent strikers, but for one reason or another Mourinho seems to think that the Blues need an extra one. For example British record signing Fernando Torres’ form improved towards the end of last season, but can he really be relied upon to score the goals needed to win the big trophies?

Youngster Romelu Lukaku looked superb last season, while on-loan at West Brom. At 20 he looks to have everything in his locker to be a truly world-class Premier League striker. However, at such a tender age can Mourinho rely upon him to produce the goods for a whole campaign?

Mourinho obviously does not believe he is ready to fulfil the role of Chelsea’s very own lone ranger. Then there is the misfiring Demba Ba. The Senegalese striker joined from Newcastle in last January transfer window and was hailed as the answer to Chelsea’s striking conundrum.

It did not quite work out for the striker though, as he was in and out of the team and registered just two goals in the campaign. New signing Germany international Andre Schurrle can play up front, but is unlikely to be played in the lone striker role, as he seems to be regarded as more of a wide forward.

Linked

As always, throughout the transfer window Chelsea have been linked with high-profile signings, but the two most interesting ones have cropped up in the last few weeks. Mourinho’s courtship of Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney has been a very public one. I wonder if Wayne got those flowers Jose sent.

Manchester United are believed to have already rejected two bids for the striker and put the not for sale signs up. However, Mourinho has said there is no time limit on signing the striker. Even if the move does not come off it is typical of the mind games that Portuguese boss likes to play.

It looks like this story will run at least until the transfer window shuts on September 2^nd and could go beyond that.

The other interesting story doing the rounds is the prospect of Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto’o joining the Blues from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.  The story was reported on the Express website yesterday, among other places and it seems it could have legs.

The Russian club are looking at a dramatic overhaul of their squad, amid claims that they are in financial strife. It is not surprising really considering the amount Anzhi spend on wages.

The Russian club are looking to slice away £50million from their expenditure for next season, which probably only means selling two players really, despite Anzhi declaring that their whole squad is up for grabs this summer.

Selling Eto’o would probably get rid of half of that figure. The former-Barcelona ace is believed to be on a massive £350,000 a week. That is an eye-watering figure, even for Roman Abramovich’s deep pockets.

He is the highest –paid player in world football. However, wages aside, he could still offer the Blues something, if he fancied a pay-cut and a stint in the Premier League. He has won trophies in Spain and Italy; why not give England a try for one last hurrah in his career.

Eto’o has been there and won everything you can in European football. His experience and finishing ability would be definitely be an asset to Chelsea. The deal would hinge on whether he would be willing to take a pay-cut though. I suspect that the striker will have to take a pay-cut wherever he moves to this summer, so Chelsea could prove an attractive option.

Favourites

Even without a new striker Chelsea still have to be considered one of the favourites for the Premier League title this season. Torres and Lukaku are not bad options to have in attack and with the players behind them they have to score goals next season.

If they do not then I suspect that the Blues will splash out some money in January to provide a solution to the problem. Chelsea will be a tough team to stop this season and another striker would only make them stronger.

The Manchester clubs must be looking over their shoulders at Chelsea, with or without a new striker the Blues will be a major threat this season.

Does Chelsea need to sign another striker this summer?