Report: Tuchel already has four Chelsea striker options in mind, including Lukaku

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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has already had his four striker options for the new season in mind ahead of Romelu Lukaku’s potential arrival, according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law.

As it stands, Tuchel has more than enough options for the No.9 role, at least in terms of numbers.

Tammy Abraham, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, and even Armando Broja are all still in the squad and can all play as a centre-forward.

However, Abraham and Broja are expected to leave the club this summer, following Olivier Giroud who has already joined AC Milan earlier this summer.

Chelsea are reportedly close to signing Lukaku from Inter Milan — which might solve their lack of a target man-type striker.

But given Abraham and Broja’s expected exits, there have been questions whether they would still be in the market for a backup striker.

According to Law, that would not be the case.

The journalist further claims that Pulisic might now play the backup striker role for the new season instead.

“I get the sense that Lukaku, Havertz, Werner, and Pulisic as a potential false nine are what Chelsea are probably thinking at the moment in terms of striking options,” Law told London is Blue Podcast.

“I haven’t heard of any [backup] striker coming in.

“I’m told that if they don’t land Lukaku, it’s more likely that they’ll start the season with Havertz as their No.9 than signing an alternative.

“And if they do get Lukaku, I think that just means Lukaku, Havertz, Werner, and Pulisic probably give them enough strikers if nobody gets any serious injuries.”

Chronicle view

Pulisic certainly has the pace and goalscoring instinct to play as a false nine, perhaps as a counter-attacking threat, similar to Werner.

Based on Law’s claim, it seems that Tuchel really considers Pulisic as an even more versatile player than many.

Bear in mind, the American started as a right wing-back in the pre-season win over Arsenal.

Tuchel even said Pulisic would be an option in that position going forward, including in the UEFA Super Cup game against Villarreal.

This would be good news for Pulisic, though, since it would only help him get more minutes on the pitch.