Why Chelsea Need To Ensure Their Attacking Recruitment Is Spot On This Summer

It has been five years since Chelsea last won the Premier League title, with the Blues reaching a 93 point tally in a successful season under Antonio Conte.

Since then they have finished third twice, fourth twice and fifth, with Champions League qualification seeming to be the minimum requirement every year.

While domestic and European cup success has been very apparent, particularly with their Champions League glory last year, Chelsea will be keen to mount a Premier League title challenge next season.

Manchester City and Liverpool have shared the honours in the past five years, City with four and the Reds with one, with the Blues yet to really compete consistently throughout a whole season since 2017.

Much of that could be down to the talent they possess in the forward positions, and therefore attacking recruitment this summer could be a huge factor that determines whether or not they win the league next season.

Mark Pain / Alamy

Chelsea ended the campaign just gone in third with 21 wins, 11 draws and 6 losses to their name.

The number of defeats is by no means acceptable and something that should be improved upon, but there will be a lot of frustration surrounding the number of draws that they accumulated.

Many of those results came from winning positions, with the Blues leading against the likes of Burnley, Everton and Brighton at home only to see the points shared come full time.

A more recent blow was their match against Wolves at Stamford Bridge, with Romelu Lukaku’s brace giving Chelsea a two goal lead only for Conor Coady to net a 96th minute equaliser to take a point back to the Molineux.

Defensive errors have, of course, been the cause of some of the disappointing results, but a lot of their matches also saw them fail to take their chances in front of goal.

That is why this summer is the perfect opportunity for the Blues to refresh their options in attack, with the likes of City and Liverpool consistently showing them how it’s done.

Mason Mount was by far and away Chelsea’s best attacker last season, with the 23-year-old amassing 29 goal contributions in all competitions.

PA Images / Alamy

He scored 11 goals in the league, the most out of any attacker in the squad, with Kai Havertz coming closest behind him with eight as well as Lukaku, but he could be on his way out of the club in the summer after just one season back at Stamford Bridge.

Both Chelsea and Inter Milan are set to hold talks over a potential loan deal for the striker, which will see him make a return to the Serie A side.

Most of Mount’s contributions last season came from an attacking midfield role, with those playing out on the wings failing to score many goals.

Christian Pulisic was able to net six in the league, and both Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech could only score four throughout the campaign.

Their performances have raised speculation over their futures at the club, with Chelsea said to be willing to listen to any offers that may come in for the trio in the summer.

PRESSINPHOTO SPORTS AGENCY / Alamy

If any number of those three were to leave ahead of next season, it is vital that the Blues bring in adequate replacements for them.

Ousmane Dembele, who is set to leave Barcelona as a free agent this summer, is being speculated to make a move to Stamford Bridge, which would see him reunite with Thomas Tuchel after the duo spent a season together at Borussia Dortmund.

Chelsea have also been linked with Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig and City’s Raheem Sterling.

All three would have the capabilities to refresh Chelsea’s attack from next season, and their role in the squad could be crucial to the club’s overall success during the campaign.

With Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital set to experience their first year at the club after their recent takeover, it will be time for them to get the ball rolling with fresh signings during the summer window, and attacking recruitment could be high up on their list of priorities.

Topics: Chelsea, Football, Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku, Ousmane Dembele, Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku

Robert Calcutt

Content Writer for Absolute Chelsea. Qualified and accredited journalist.

@robert_calcutt