Frank Leboeuf unsure about Chelsea’s reported attacking targets

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Former Blues defender Frank Leboeuf is not convinced by the three attacking players Chelsea have been linked with this summer.

There are more than just three attackers that have been linked with Chelsea this summer, but Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, Leeds United’s Raphinha, and Ousmane Dembele are reportedly at the top of Thomas Tuchel’s shortlist.

Sterling has just one year left in his contract at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City are reportedly open to selling the winger after the player’s rejecting their previous extension offer.

Similarly, Raphinha seems to be ready to leave Leeds United, although recent reports suggest a move to Barcelona would be his preferred choice.

On the other hand, Dembele has just become a free agent after his contract at Barcelona officially expired at the end of June.

Given Chelsea’s inconsistent attacking line, as well as Romelu Lukaku’s return to Inter Milan on a season-long loan, it is hardly a surprise if Tuchel would want to bring in new options.

However, Leboeuf does not seem to be really impressed by these three options.

“If [Hakim] Ziyech stays, I don’t see the point of getting Raphinha because they’re so [similar] to me,” the former France international told ESPN FC.

“But if Ziyech leaves, why not? I saw him play for Rennes and Leeds, and he’s interesting.

“Sterling… I don’t know — I still have [my reservations] about him. He’s been good and played many games — more than 40 — for Manchester City last season, but sometimes he can be so clumsy.

“Dembele… the inconsistency of his football…

“Of course, the talent is there, but consistency is what we want to see.”

Leboeuf seems to believe that Raphinha would be his pick out of these options, despite his seeing the Brazil international as a like-for-like replacement for Ziyech rather than a guaranteed improvement.

A recent report in Italy claimed that Ziyech is close to joining AC Milan, so another left-footed right winger such as Raphinha would arguably be the safest best for Chelsea in terms of replacement.

Lukaku’s loan exit means Chelsea could need a goalscorer, however, and Sterling clearly has the best record out of the three.

Dembele had an incredible playmaking record for Barcelona last season with 13 assists from just 15 starts in La Liga. But as Leboeuf pointed out, he has mostly struggled with consistency.

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