Several forwards are being linked to Chelsea right now, including one who allegedly came close to joining the club when Mauricio Pochettino was still in charge.
Nicolas Jackson is Chelsea‘s first-choice striker presently and has done a good job this season.
In the 19 Premier League appearances that the 23-year-old has made, he has scored nine goals. However, his form has dipped in recent weeks, netting just once in his last six games.
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel recently spoke about Jackson, claiming that the Blues could have won the title this term if they had a better No.9 than the Senegal international.
- READ MORE: Chelsea’s interest in £41m striker likened to Erling Haaland isn’t as strong as Arsenal’s
Chelsea almost signed Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic
If Chelsea want to sign a striker this month, then Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic could be an option for them.
It has been reported that Vlahovic has already been offered to Chelsea, so the Serbian seems attainable.
It is not the first time that Chelsea have been linked with Vlahovic. In fact, journalist Simon Phillips has claimed that the club actually came close to signing him during Pochettino‘s time at Stamford Bridge.
On his Substack Si Phillips Talks Chelsea, he wrote: “Sources have not yet heard anything fresh on Vlahovic, but sources have said that we were ‘quite close’ to signing him under Mauricio Pochettino.”
Igor Tudor claims Dusan Vlahovic ‘has everything’
For one manager, who has had to come up against Vlahovic, the 24-year-old is a pretty complete forward.
Speaking about Vlahovic in a press conference during the 2021/22 season, which was relayed by Football Italia, former Lazio and Hellas Verona boss Igor Tudor said: “He is one of the best in the world, he has everything. It’s everything between the two ears, the hunger, that makes the difference.”
Vlahovic finished that campaign with 24 goals in 36 Serie A games, joining Juventus from Fiorentina halfway through the season.
His proficiency has dropped since then, with the Serbia international only managing to score 10 goals the following year. However, Vlahovic is still quite young for a striker and it is clear to see that when he is at his best, he can be a real problem for defences.
| Dusan Vlahovic’s last five seasons | Serie A games | Goals |
| 2024/25 | 16 | 7 |
| 2023/24 | 33 | 16 |
| 2022/23 | 27 | 10 |
| 2021/22 | 36 | 24 |
| 2020/21 | 37 | 21 |
| Total | 149 | 78 |
Ultimately, Chelsea could do a lot worse then Vlahovic this month. If the former Fiorentina man is the striker they sign, then Enzo Maresca can be happy.
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