3 Strikers Chelsea Should Look To Sign

From Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to Gianfranco Zola, from Didier Drogba to Diego Costa, it's fair to say that Chelsea have always boasted top-class talent up-front.

In recent seasons though, goals have been relatively hard to come by for the Blues, with the side failing to find and settle down on a a trusted number nine. Tammy Abraham has answered such a problem this year though, with the Englishman scoring 15 times in hist first senior campaign for the club.

This is, however, twice as many more than anybody else in the Chelsea squad. Frank Lampard's side have been heavily reliant on the 22-year-old for goals this season, leading onto speculation that the manager is after a new forward to bolster his attacking options this summer.

On the back of such reports, we've taken a look into three strikers they could consider.

As per The Athletic, Chelsea are prioritising the signing of Moussa Dembele in the next transfer window. The club was also linked with a move for the Frenchman back in January, suggesting that Lampard is certainly keen on the Lyon forward.

Read more about Chelsea's transfer plans in The Athletic here.

Despite being just 23-years-of-age, Dembele has grown to become quite a household name across Europe. Having broke through Fulham's youth academy at just 16, the striker quickly secured a move to Celtic in 2016. He enjoyed two productive years under Brendan Rodgers, playing a key role in Celtic's back-to-back treble winning seasons.

It was always expected that the young talent would aspire to make another step up in his career though, with his move to Lyon in 2018 not exactly coming as a surprise. The forward has taken Ligue 1 by storm, managing to put up consistent goalscoring stats and impress in a division that continues to be dominated by one club.

Although Dembele is recognised for his quick acceleration, the Frenchman also boasts strong physicality, flourishing in holding up the ball and bringing his teammates into play. He is predominantly deployed as the lone striker for Lyon, with two inside forwards drifting centrally to offer support.

This is similar to how Chelsea actually like to setup, particularly with Lampard favouring a three man midfield. The Premier League would no doubt be a step up for Dembele, but he has adapted to every new division quickly in his career so far.

Another young striker that has been creating waves of interest across Europe - Timo Werner.

The German has burst onto the scene over the last 2 years, coinciding with RB Leipzig's exciting project in Germany. Acting as the focal point in Julian Nagelsmann's dynamic and attacking system, Werner has helped the Bundesliga side transform from Champions League aspirers, to title contenders.

With 27 goals so far this season, it won't come as a surprise to many to see reports linking the 24-year-old with a move away from Leipzig near enough every other week. He has quickly established himself as one of Europe's most prized assets in the transfer market, with only Robert Lewandowski and Ciro Immobile registering more goals across the top five leagues this season.

Werner's sheer pace causes problems for even the strongest backlines, with the German continuously looking to exploit space inside the final third. Spearheading Leipzig's fluid front three, he is always looking to stretch the game and get his side on the front foot.

Tottenham Hotspur found out how dangerous the forward is on the break, with Werner causing Jose Mourinho's team non-stop issues, over their two Champions League ties. There can be no denying the quality of the striker and he will no doubt find himself at the top of many club's transfer wish-lists, come summer.

Paddy Power have recognised this factor, with Chelsea being made 11/1 underdogs to secure his signature. Liverpool are the clear favourites at 4/9, with Manchester United in second at 6/1.

Signing players from fellow Premier League clubs hasn't always gone to plan for Chelsea. The notorious signing of Fernando Torres will forever be remembered for all the wrong reasons, with one of their latest domestic arrivals in Danny Drinkwater also going down a similar route.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Roman Abramovich has preferred the avenue of bringing in stars in from different European countries down the years, but we think one figure can change the curse.

Raul Jimenez would be an efficient addition to any side in the country, with the Mexican going from strength to strength since arriving in the Premier League. The 28-year-old is a fundamental asset to Nuno Santo's staring XI, with the forward striking up a strong relationship with his fellow frontmen.

As an all-rounded number nine, Jimenez is a versatile figure that benefits his side's attacking shape in numerous ways. Whether it's from holding the ball up in the pockets or making runs down the flank, the Mexican is a forward that helps transition his side dangerously into the final third.

At 28-years-of-age, he could well be swayed towards a team that is competing in the Champions League. According to previous reports, Man United and Arsenal also appear keen, so this transfer story is certainly one to keep close tabs on.