Chelsea’s £1.5 Billion Gamble: Where Are the Strikers?

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Despite the massive transfer splurge, Chelsea have failed to live up to expectations.
Image credit: Adotch

Chelsea fans must be wondering how their club has managed to spend over £1.5 billion in just under three years and still find themselves without a fit, reliable striker.

The recent 3-0 thrashing at Brighton exposed the glaring weakness in Enzo Maresca’s squad—an attack that lacks firepower. Despite the massive transfer splurge, Chelsea failed to register a single shot on target.

So, how did the Blues end up in this situation, and what’s next for Maresca?

Big Money, No Goals

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over, Chelsea have spent a staggering £445 million on attacking players. Yet, when it comes to actual No. 9s, the options have been uninspiring.

  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came and went, barely getting a chance under the new regime before being shipped off.
  • David Datro Fofana, Deivid Washington, and Marc Guiu were signed as young prospects but haven’t been ready for the Premier League.
  • Most of the money went into wingers or attacking midfielders like Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, and Cole Palmer. Only Palmer has delivered consistently.
  • The club did sign Nicolas Jackson, but he’s now out for six weeks with a hamstring injury. That leaves Chelsea with no proven striker available.

Injury Crisis & Suspensions

As if the striker situation wasn’t bad enough, injuries and suspensions have made things worse.

  • Marc Guiu, a 19-year-old yet to start a league game, is out for weeks or even months with a groin problem.
  • Noni Madueke picked up an injury in the Brighton game and will also be out for some time.

With no senior strikers available, Maresca was forced to play Cole Palmer as a false nine, a role that clearly didn’t suit him.

Tactical Adjustments Falling Flat

Maresca attempted to shift things around by moving Christopher Nkunku away from the striker role, after he struggled there in previous matches.

But with no real presence up front, Chelsea dominated possession (69.4%) and completed 648 passes, yet failed to trouble Brighton’s keeper.

This is becoming a trend. Chelsea had the same problem in their FA Cup clash against Brighton a week earlier, seeing more of the ball but barely creating real chances.

Palmer’s Dip in Form

Cole Palmer has been Chelsea’s brightest spark this season, but even he seems to be struggling with the tactical reshuffle.

  • He hasn’t scored in four straight Premier League matches—his longest goal drought since joining Chelsea.
  • Although he has 14 goals and six assists this season, he’s being asked to play deeper, limiting his goal-scoring impact.

Maresca insists Chelsea’s problems are not just about Palmer:

Football is a team, it’s not tennis. It’s not only Cole Palmer. We are all the same in this moment.

What Next for Chelsea?

The reality is clear—Chelsea need a proper No. 9, and they need one fast. But in the short term, Maresca has to find a way to make do with what he has.

Can he unlock a different version of Nkunku? Will Chelsea change their playing style to be less possession-heavy and more direct?

For all the money spent, Chelsea are still desperately short of attacking options. And unless something changes soon, their struggles in front of goal will continue to define their season.

What do you think—should Chelsea have spent more wisely in the transfer market? Let us know in the comments!

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