Sometimes in a season your strikers just don’t perform as well as you think they should do, therefore relying on other players to make up for such lack of form. They chip in with goals from time to time, but not regularly enough for your liking. You instantly jump to the conclusion that a complete re-shuffle is needed in order to fill that void.
However, leaping at the first striker that becomes available isn’t the way forward.
With the money and influence that Chelsea have, they can afford to wait and evaluate other options. The Mirror are reporting that Mario Mandzukic has opened the door to a Premier League move after ‘clearing out Bayern Munich locker’. The Mirror have linked the Stamford Bridge outfit with a move for the Croatian star. However, I feel that Chelsea shouldn’t go after the Bayern striker for three key reasons.
1. Mario Mandzukic is an upgrade on the current crop as he just out performs them on a few aspects of the game. His attacking instinct or clinical nature hasn’t faltered. However, he doesn’t really provide a different kind of threat than say Demba Ba or Romelu Lukaku. His style is similar to that of Ba, who also enjoyed a rich vein of form before joining the Blues. I just don’t think his style will shock the league in such a way that he’ll particularly enjoy his stay.
2. There are other, better options on the market that Chelsea should look into. Edinson Cavani is unhappy at Paris Saint Germain, Mario Balotelli has been rumoured to be off in the summer and Karim Benzema doesn’t look likely to stay at Real Madrid. I rate all these above Mandzukic and are likely to be available as well. Why not go big and sign someone that will will shock the opposition.
3. What about Romelu Lukaku? Mandzukic has the European experience over the Belgian but Lukaku does have the Premier League know-how which can be far better than the experience Mandzukic holds. Lukaku, in theory, has many strengths over Mandzukic and if he’s properly trained then Chelsea could have a brilliant player on their hands. Free of charge as well. This gives them room to add someone like Cavani. A different threat entirely.
Mario Mandzukic would be a back up in support of Diego Costa (if he signs) and Torres who is apparently staying. If you want something a little different why not look within the ranks at Chelsea. Islam Feruz, Patrick Bamford, Romelu Lukaku is the obvious one as he has a high profile, he is not the only option.
Chelsea have been linked with 40 new players since the transfer window closed. we also have 22 layers leaving the squad fo 40 plus different clubs. that fan is likely to have at least one bit of near truth on it.