Chelsea offered ‘really special’ striker and £50m forward as Pochettino demands January attacker
The January transfer window has yet to burst into action but Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen for the club to make even more signings in the coming weeks.
HITC Football understands that Chelsea are looking at the Saudi Pro League for potential temporary additions for the rest of the season.
We revealed last week that Chelsea have been offered plenty of short-term attacking options this month.
Mauricio Pochettino has asked Chelsea chiefs to see what options are available as Christopher Nkunku’s return has been hampered by injury.
Chelsea eyeing Saudi Pro League for January striker options
It’s understandable that Chelsea are looking at Saudi Arabia given the relationship between the club’s owners Clearlake and PIF who owns the four biggest clubs in the Pro League.
Todd Boehly travelled to Saudi in the summer to meet Al-Hilal president Fahd bin Nafel.
In theory, options are limited this month, but HITC Football believes that Roberto Firmino – who has interest from other Premier League sides – and Aleksandar Mitrovic are among the options offered to Chelsea.
However, Saudi-based sources with knowledge of the situation have told HITC that it is ‘highly unlikely’ that any move would be sanctioned for some of the biggest names in the league.
This mimics the thoughts of Al-Ettifaq who are very reluctant to let England international Jordan Henderson depart this month.
Chelsea offered Firmino and Mitrovic as short-term options
While Chelsea have recorded three league wins on the bounce, Mauricio Pochettino will be well aware of the shortcomings of his squad right now.
They pinned plenty of their hopes on Christopher Nkunku to be their leading striker this season after his big-money move from RB Leipzig.
However, he’s failed to follow up his monumental 2021/22 season where he recorded 33 goal contributions in the Bundesliga, primarily due to injury.
Chelsea understandably want to strengthen but given how much they’ve already spent and their policy of only wanting to sign the best young talent who might not be ready to step up and score regularly in the Premier League, alternatives need to be considered.
It therefore makes sense that Chelsea have been offered Mitrovic and Firmino who both have proven track records in England’s top flight.
Whether they would be the right choice even if an unlikely move could be negotiated is another matter.
Patience might be the best solution for Pochettino
Roberto Firmino has a fantastic Premier League pedigree and it’s no wonder his old manager Jurgen Klopp described him as ‘really special’ as he departed Liverpool.
The trouble with Firmino as an option as he was never a clinical striker at Anfield.
Instead, he created chances for his teammates but the problem at Chelsea is all of their current options – except for Cole Palmer – can’t convert the opportunities presented to them.
Aleksandar Mitrovic left local rivals Fulham for £50m in the summer and it would be an incredibly unpopular transfer for fans at Craven Cottage if they saw their old hero wearing Chelsea blue.
Mitrovic would be a better option for Chelsea than Firmino, but convincing Al-Hilal to let their highest-scoring player leave midway through a campaign where they’re seven points clear of second-place Al-Nassr seems next to impossible.
Both options would also be incredibly expensive in terms of their wages.
Pochettino might be better off being patient and working with the players he’s currently got.
However, that would also require the club to be patient with him and give him another summer transfer window to mould his squad.
Source: hitc.com