Chelsea targeting striker after mid-season friendly injury

Chelsea were defeated 1-0 by Aston Villa in a mid-season friendly in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with John McGinn’s early goal enough to give The Villans victory. 

Blues boss Graham Potter is under pressure to turn results around at Stamford Bridge, with his side having been in woeful form prior to the World Cup.

Chelsea had lost three consecutive league games before the break and hadn’t won in five matches, but they will be looking to get back to winning ways against Bournemouth on December 27.

The game against The Cherries is Chelsea’s only fixture before the January transfer window opens, and it appears increasingly likely that Potter will be making use of the market in the new year.

According to Fabrizio Romano, The Blues are prepared to sign a striker in January in order to bolster Potter’s attacking options.

Romano claims that the club were already considering signing a striker, but an injury sustained by Armando Broja against Villa has forced their hand.

The Albania international was injured during a collision with Ezri Konsa during the match on Sunday and was visibly in pain afterwards.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the players that has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent months

It has since been confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season having suffered a torn ACL, and Chelsea are therefore preparing to move for a striker when the window opens.

A number of forwards have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in recent months, few more so than former Manchester United man Cristiano Ronaldo, who left The Red Devils last month by mutual consent after a controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

The 37-year-old is now available on a free transfer, although he has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

Since taking charge of the club over the summer, new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has spent heavily, sanctioning moves for a number of players including Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kalidou Koulibaly.

Another option for Chelsea could be to recall Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku from his season-long loan spell at Italian side Inter Milan.

The striker returned to Chelsea last summer but was loaned back to the Serie A side this summer having failed to impress last term.