The key Chelsea problem Enzo Maresca must fix in the January transfer window to make them title contenders
Chelsea have surprised many with the strong start to the season they have had but they just have one thing to fix.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has managed to solve many problems in a short period of time, creating healthy competition within the Blues squad. The players are fighting with a strong spirit that it’s beautiful to watch. He has also improved the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, with players now comfortably applauding the fans after games, a gesture greatly appreciated by supporters both home and away.
On the field, we've seen significant improvement from many players, including those who were already at the club last season and the new arrivals this campaign. For example, Cole Palmer is answering all the questions posed in the summer when the managerial change occurred. There were doubts about whether he could continue to show the same promise and class under a new manager, but so far, he has proven he can.
Similarly, Nicolas Jackson has spent time looking for ways to elevate his game, and that question has also been answered affirmatively. Chelsea have lost only once in the first seven games of the season. However, there is one more addition Maresca could consider to take the squad to another level: a striker who plays differently and offers a new dimension to their game.
A need for a new striker to mix things up
The greatest Chelsea teams always had a different type of striker on the bench, someone who could come on in the last 10 minutes and win a game. A few weeks ago, they were linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, a striker who would provide something different.
3AddedMinutes understands that the Nigerian is on Chelsea's list, and while formal talks have not been held, he represents the type of striker Chelsea currently lacks in their squad—tall, physical, and strong in the air. Boniface has already scored four goals in the Bundesliga this season and continues to torment defenders.
He is similar to Victor Osimhen, who Chelsea pursued all summer, but Boniface would be cheaper and younger, giving Maresca the opportunity to mould him into the system. Chelsea have plenty of wide and central talent, but there are games where you need a striker to be a handful—someone you can throw into a tough game to make the difference between a defeat and a draw.
The club believes they have done brilliant business and are covered in all departments for a long time, but there's a feeling that adding a striker who offers something different in January could be special for this team. The games after the international break appear tougher on paper than those they've played so far—there's a trip to Anfield, where Liverpool have been very good under new manager Arne Slot, as well as a trip to Greece and a return to face Newcastle.
If Chelsea were to arrive in January still in fourth and just a few points off the top spot, there’s a sense they would go all out to stay in the race—and what better way than by adding a different option upfront to help both Jackson and Nkunku.