Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has condemned the inability of the Chelsea hierarchy to recruit a consistent and regular goalscorer in the last two transfer windows.
What did Carragher say about Chelsea?
The Blues largely dominated Liverpool in their stalemate on Tuesday evening but failed to convert a series of golden opportunities – a familiar storyline that has plagued their season.
The 2021 Champions League winners have only scored 29 goals in 29 games, their lowest tally at this stage since 1924, and Carragher is dumbfounded by the decision to not bring in any out-and-out strikers.
Speaking on the bizarre situation and Todd Boehly’s decision-making as owner, he said:
“They had so many chances, how do they spend £600m but still not have a striker, unbelievable.
“It was a good performance against Liverpool and should win 2-0 with all the chances they had.”
Yet more dropped points mean Chelsea now incredibly resides in 11th place and seemingly face the doomed possibility of no European football at all next campaign.
How have Chelsea founud themselves in this position?
Since the new Chelsea ownership led by Boehly succeeded Roman Abramovich in May 2022, the club has spent over £600m in order to retain its highly-esteemed European reputation and pedigree that has been cemented over the last 15 years.
However, this outlay has backfired and the failure to bring in a recognised striker is one of the primary reasons for their unfathomable slump into midtable mediocrity.
Against fellow strugglers Liverpool last night, the west London outfit mustered 12 shots and missed four big chances, as per Sofascore, which included glaring opportunities for Kai Havertz and Joao Felix.
Both forwards showed flashes of individual skill and brilliance last night, but ultimately faltered at the last hurdle – finding the back of the net.
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville echoed Carragher’s concerns at Chelsea’s inexplicable predicament up top and added:
“They are struggling badly. No centre forward with all the investment and no one who believes it is their job to score a goal.”
However, within interim coach Bruno Saltor’s ranks, there are strikers either currently at the club or out on loan.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang was signed in a frantic deal on deadline day but has seemingly been exiled from the squad, whilst youngster David Datro Fofana has only made three appearances since his January move from Norway and has failed to impress the management.
The future of £97.5m signing Romelu Lukaku is also uncertain, given the club’s current managerial situation, as the Blues’ goalscoring problem skyrockets to an all-time significance.
It remains to be seen how the temporary boss will attempt to resurrect the frontline to salvage some pride this season but it is definitely an area that Chelsea will target in the next transfer window.