Chelsea will need a star man to lead their line next season now Didier Drogba has departed.
Even though Fernando Torres remains at the club, you can bet any money you like that Roman Abramovich will splash the cash to secure one of the world’s top stars.
Here are five proven goalscorers the club must consider
Radamel Falcao
Colombian striker Falcao is surely the best like for like replacement out there. He is a born goalscorer, with a simply tremendous record. He can score all sorts goals, headers, tap-ins, and the spectacular, and he is more than capable of leading the line. He is at the stage of his career where twice a Europa League winner, he needs to play Champions League football, and Atletico Madrid finished just fifth in La Liga last season. Madrid paid around £35 million for his services and would want to make a profit if they were to sell him. Chelsea are one of very few clubs who could afford the £50 million asking price, and could even offer Fernando Torres to his boyhood club in part-exchange. His record in 2011/12 reads 36 goals in 50 games.
Edinson Cavani
Napoli striker Cavani showed Chelsea his striking prowess first-hand when he scored past them in the Champions League, in a game which would signify the beginning of the end for Andre Villas-Boas. The bad news for Napoli is that they too finished fifth in their league, and the striker will have to move away if he wants to play in Europe’s top competition next season. Napoli would want around £30 million for his signature, with Manchester City also strongly rumoured to be interested. The striker is the mofel of consistency, scoring 33 goals in 47 games for the second season in succession for his club, helping them win the Coppa Italia along the way.
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Leandro Damiao
Brazilian sensation Neymar is under lock and key at Santos, with their president declaring he will not sell until 2014, but his fellow countryman Leandro Damiao is a different proposition. Age 22, he is already capped by Brazil, and is viewed as the complete striker. Still untested in Europe, his strike record in his homeland remains one to be proud of, with 65 goals in little over 100 games, including 15 in 20 in 2012. Tottenham and PSG have both been linked with him, and the French side are the ones most likely to bid this summer, with a figure of £30 million expected to seal his signature from Internacional.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
AC Milan boss Massimo Allegri has stated that Zlatan is not for sale, but as we know, money talks, and Chelsea have plenty of it. A mega-offer and the lure of joining the European Champions could tempt both player and club, who has also interested Manchester City. He is proven at leading the line- scoring 35 goals the season just gone, and has a medal collection to rival the very best in the continent, winning league titles in eight of his last nine seasons with various clubs. England would be a new challenge for him, but Chelsea would have to stump up mega-money, possibly over £50 million. Nevertheless they should still consider him, and Milan could use the money to buy Tevez, Balotelli, or both, from City.
Gonzalo Higuain
Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain is expected to leave Real Madrid this summer, after helping them to their first league title since 2008. He scored 26 goals this season, but featured from the bench more than he started, with Karim Benzema preferred to lead the line, and Madrid are keen to sign a new striker to mix up their attack and allow him to go. Both Manchester clubs have been linked, but Chelsea would be his most natural fit, due to their need to replace Drogba, and he can be a new hero at Stamford Bridge. He has an eye for being in the right place at the right time and would no doubt score goals for fun in the Premier League.
Which of these five should Chelsea target? Who else should be on their radar?
image: © jikatu
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