Chelsea transfer specialists Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have reportedly compiled a five-man shortlist to give Mauricio Pochettino more firepower. The Blues boss spoke of a ‘reality check’ after Sunday’s defeat at Everton, with his side unable to get on the scoresheet at Goodison Park.
Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney are long-standing targets for Todd Boehly and other senior figures at Stamford Bridge. The goal-hungry duo, who play for Napoli and Brentford respectively, could each command fees in the region of £100million.
Chelsea have also pinpointed three lesser-known stars, should co-owner Boehly opt to be more careful with his transfer war chest this winter. According to the Evening Standard, one of the names under consideration is Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sweden international, 25, was earning his living in the EFL with Coventry City only last season. But since heading to Portugal and signing for Sporting, his stock has gone through the roof.
With 15 goals in 18 matches, including two in the Europa League, 6ft 2in Gyokeres is hot property. Sporting certainly won’t want to lose their hit man midway through his debut campaign, and it remains to be seen whether a bid undercutting his £87m release clause would be enough to tempt them.
Roony Bardghji is another left-field candidate with admirers in west London. Chelsea are believed to be keeping track of the Copenhagen forward, who put his name on the map by scoring a late winner against Manchester United earlier this season.
Bardghji, who turned 18 only last month, has already hit double figures in all competitions. Small, nippy and able to play across the front-line, the Swede is an exciting prospect, even if he would not be able to provide Pochettino with much-needed experience up top.
The Blues have made a point of going after young talent since Boehly and Clearlake Capital took the reins. Antonio Nusa fits the mould, and Chelsea retain an interest in the 18-year-old following their rejected deadline-day summer bid.
Like Bardghji, Nusa is not an out-and-out centre-forward, but he has managed four goal contributions in the Juliper Pro League for Club Brugge so far this term.
Despite Chelsea spending almost half a billion pounds in the summer, Pochettino has called for further spending to help his side improve on their current 12th-place standing over the second part of the season.
