Chelsea are in the market for a new striker ahead of next season and could rival Arsenal for at least one of their potential targets to strengthen up front.
The Blues have improved considerably since last season but still lack a prolific ‘number nine’, with Diego Costa in 2016/17 the last centre forward to reach 20 Premier League goals.
Nicolas Jackson managed a respectable 14 in 2023/24 and has another nine just over halfway through this campaign. But the Senegal international hasn’t scored since before Christmas and was scarcely involved during Monday night’s win over Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
The Times notes that Chelsea are “considering” Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after already speaking with the Serie A giants over the possibility of them taking the unsettled Renato Veiga.
Vlahovic has 12 goals in all competitions so far this season, which makes him Juve’s top scorer by some distance. But his time in Turin since an €80m move from Fiorentina three years ago has been a rollercoaster, while Randal Kolo Muani is soon expected to join on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
By selling the Serbia international ahead of next season, a cash-conscious Juve could also avoid a contracted pay rise that will kick in in from the summer, when he is already their top earner.
Arsenal were keen on Vlahovic in January 2022 and lost out to Juventus. But even though the Gunners still haven’t landed a proper striker, The Times adds that they are not after him now.
Another striker that Arsenal are tipped to chase, however, is Benjamin Sesko. The RB Leipzig front-man signed a new long-term contract with a pay rise last summer, but with the understanding that he would be allowed to move on in 2025.
Arsenal’s interest in the Slovenian is well established and it has already been rumoured in recent days that they could accelerate an approach for him given the loss of Gabriel Jesus to injury. The problem for them may be that Chelsea are also believed to be keeping watch of Sesko.
Sky Sport CH writes that the Blues recently initiated contact with RB Leipzig, having already been in touch with the player’s representatives, but their intent would be to complete a summer transfer rather than have Sesko move to London now. Leipzig would sell for a sum of €80m (£68m).