Transfer Update: Chelsea Director, Marina Granovskaia Submit List of Targets for January Window

Chelsea chief Marina Granovskaia has released target list of top 5 classical strikers as the January window is now open and Chelsea could do with some fresh blood. Who are five attackers the Blues could target this month?

Having spent around £250 million over the summer to revamp the team’s front line, Chelsea probably doesn’t need to buy any forwards in the January. There is more than enough attacking talent in the squad, despite the Blues’ current poor run of form.

Erling Haaland

It should come as no surprise to see Haaland’s name at the top of this list, as nearly every top European club wants a piece of the Norwegian wonderkid. After bursting onto the scene with RB Salzburg in last year’s Champions League, Haaland has gone on to become one of the most lethal hitmen on the continent, and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Since moving to Borussia Dortmund from Salzburg last January, Haaland has scored 33 goals in 32 matches, an incredible record for such a young player. He has become the focal point of Dortmund’s attack, forming great relationships with all of his teammates, specifically Jadon Sancho last season and Gio Reyna to begin the current campaign. The fact that Dortmund currently sits fifth in the Bundesliga table has very little to do with Haaland’s play, as he has actually been one of the few bright spots for BVB.

Jadon Sancho

One of Haaland’s teammates at Borussia Dortmund, Jadon Sancho, would be another great signing for Chelsea in January. The exciting playmaker has had a difficult start to this season’s Bundesliga campaign, but his potential to become a top winger in the world is unquestionable.

The Sancho transfer saga was one of the biggest headlines last summer when it seemed obvious the 20-year-old would leave Signal Iduna Park, most likely for Old Trafford. A large disparity in Sancho’s valuation between Manchester United and Dortmund prevented the transfer from taking place, forcing the Englishman to stay in Germany for at least another few months.

The drama surrounding the potential move appears to have had a negative impact on Sancho, as he has struggled to replicate his form from last year thus far. He is yet to score in 11 Bundesliga appearances, but has assisted four times in the league. Sancho’s play has been slightly better in the Champions League, in which he has scored twice and made two assists in five appearances.

Wilfried Zaha

Like Sancho, Wilfried Zaha has been the subject of intense transfer speculation during the past few windows. The Crystal Palace star has always been on the verge of joining one of the big six, and January would be the perfect time for him to finally make a move.

Zaha has gotten off to a tremendous start this season, scoring eight goals and adding two assists in 14 appearances for the Eagles. As usual, though, Palace are sitting near the bottom of the Premier League table, despite Zaha’s best efforts. He has simply grown too big for the club, and needs to find a new home where his talent can reach its full potential.

Jonathan Bamba

Jonathan Bamba has quietly been one of the most consistent players in Europe over the past two seasons, likely because his talent has been hidden away in Ligue 1. Now, though, after a few fantastic appearances with the French national team, Bamba is set for a breakout year that will make him one of the hottest commodities on the continent. Chelsea need to act quickly if they are to sign Bamba for significantly less than he is worth.

The 24-year-old is having the best year of his career so far, scoring five goals and making a league-leading six assists for his surprising Lille side that currently sits second in the French top flight. Bamba has been especially successful because of his tremendous understanding with teammate Burak Yilmaz, who has been one of the lesser known stars of Ligue 1 in 2020. The two have built a strong connection with Bamba bombing down the left wing to create scoring opportunities for Yilmaz.

Diego Costa

I’m only half joking by putting Diego Costa on this list. Having just been released by his club at 32-years-old with the best time of his career behind him, Costa might not be the answer to Chelsea’s poor performances on the pitch. However, his take-no-prisoners attitude would be an invaluable asset to this Blues squad that lacks a cutting edge.

Since returning to Atletico Madrid from Stamford Bridge in January 2018, Costa has been unable to rediscover his dominant form that made him a borderline club legend at Chelsea. He has scored just 19 goals in 81 appearances during his second spell at Atleti, and has been plagued by seemingly unending injury woes. Luis Suarez’s arrival at the Wanda Metropolitano was the death knell for Costa, so it was likely a mutually beneficial decision for the Spanish hitman to leave the capital.

There are a number of impediments to Costa rejoining the Blues. First is the simple fact that Chelsea really don’t need him. He would probably land fourth on the squad’s depth chart behind Werner, Giroud, and Abraham, so playing time would be hard to come by. Rumors of Giroud departing Chelsea for Inter Milan have started to make the rounds again, however, making Costa a viable cut-price replacement.