Chelsea have just been linked with a Premier League centre-forward that would cost £65m to sign.
Like so many strikers, he once named Blues legend Didier Drogba as an idol of his.
Now that the summer transfer window is fast approaching, Chelsea are being linked with a host of different centre-forwards that they may try bring to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku as options to play the No 9 position, but many supporters will argue the club needs to sign a clinical frontman to lead the line.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is one attacker we don’t expect to see in Chelsea colours next season. Gazzetta recently claimed that Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is not keen on signing central striker Osimhen.
A new name has emerged in the transfer rumour mill regarding Chelsea’s search for a striker, though.
Chelsea eye Premier League forward
TalkSPORT claims that Chelsea and Tottenham have both set their sights on Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke as a potential summer target.
It is understood that Solanke, 26, has a release clause in his Bournemouth deal worth £65m. However, that is only active for the Premier League’s ‘big six’ clubs: Chelsea, Spurs, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
The report explains that the Blues have made signing a new striker a priority for this summer, with Solanke one potential option.
In addition, clubs in Italy share interest in the Bournemouth attacker.
Should Dominic Solanke return to Stamford Bridge?
Solanke enjoyed the best season of his career to date last year by scoring 21 goals across all competitions for Bournemouth, with 19 coming in the Premier League.
In truth, he’s perhaps a tad unfortunate to miss out on England’s squad for Euro 2024 this summer.
He developed in Chelsea’s academy as a highly rated youngster, but made just one first team appearance for the Blues before his exit in 2017. That was followed by two years at Liverpool before he found a real home on the south coast with Bournemouth.
Described as “really talented” by Jurgen Klopp via BBC Sport in January, Solanke has developed into a complete striker.
The Chelsea Chronicle doesn’t think he’s worth £65m just yet, so he’d be a massive gamble at that price for Chelsea. Instead, he’d be better off spending one more season flourishing in Bournemouth colours before a potential big move elsewhere.
He idolised Didier Drogba
Solanke once admitted that he looked up to Chelsea icon Drogba as a player. In fact, they even shared a dressing room when the Bournemouth star was a youngster at the Bridge.
Solanke told The Athletic in 2021: “Take Drogba. He was my biggest idol when I was growing up. I was lucky enough to be around him especially when he came back to Chelsea the second time. He was always helping me.
“… Even to this day, I watch clips of him. It is something I still like to look at and work on because he was so strong. The way he used his body to bully defenders is something I want to do as well.”
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