Jamie Redknapp has defined the explanations Chelsea are struggling, admitting they “haven’t bought” a real goalscorer like a “Drogba or Costa”.
Chelsea would have felt the signing of Romelu Lukaku might elevate them again to a Premier League powerhouse. Whereas he began sturdy, his type has dropped off massively.
The Belgian scored three objectives in his first three league video games. Since then, although, he has scored simply two Premier League objectives, and has fallen out of favour.
Thomas Tuchel has as a substitute utilised Kai Havertz up entrance quite a lot of the time. Whereas he has bagged 13 objectives in all competitions, he’s not an out-and-out striker.
Neither is second-highest scorer Mason Mount – who has 12 objectives.
Chelsea have discovered themselves third within the Premier League for a lot of this season. They’ve struggled to maintain up with Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool, and Redknapp thinks that may be attributed to their lack of a real ahead.
“They felt Romelu Lukaku was going to be the lacking piece to the jigsaw, the person who would get them 20, 25 objectives to raise them to the title race and it hasn’t labored out,” he said on Sky Sports.
Certainly, Lukaku’s complete is a measly one following his £97.5million transfer from Inter Milan.
Had been he to have come good, the Blues might nicely have been in a greater place within the league.
Chelsea might look to switch to the ahead – if they can – earlier than subsequent season.
Redknapp tells Chelsea what they want
Redknapp was complimentary of deputy striker Havertz, however instructed Chelsea what they should contend for the title.
“[Timo] Werner’s not a pure finisher. Havertz, I really like his motion. However they haven’t bought that goalscorer like a [Didier] Drogba or [Diego] Costa who’s going to get you the 20 or 25 objectives that you’re going to have to win the title and that’s actually the place they’ve come up brief,” he added.
Chelsea’s final Premier League triumph got here within the 2016/17 season. Costa was deployed up high that season, and located the web 20 occasions – the joint fourth-highest tally within the league.
Havertz – Chelsea’s high scorer this season – has seven league objectives. As such, Redknapp might be appropriate {that a} high striker is required for them to achieve these heights once more.
READ MORE: ‘Again to the drafting board’ Chelsea star must be ‘moved on’ in line with former boss