Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes misfiring Chelsea need to bring in at least two new strikers next season to solve their goalscoring problems.
Chelsea have endured a disappointing campaign and currently languish in 10th spot in the Premier League despite co-owner Todd Boehly splashing out £600million on new players over the last two transfer windows.
The Blues are not only struggling to win games but even to score, with Graham Potter’s side having scored just five goals in 10 games in 2023 and just one goal in their last five outings ahead of this weekend’s London derby with rivals Tottenham.
Beginning our #TotChe prep. 🔋 pic.twitter.com/cXvOeSTVW7
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 21, 2023
Hasselbaink, who finished as Chelsea’s top scorer in three of his four seasons at Stamford Bridge, has urged the club to bring in two proven forwards who can hit the ground running in next summer’s transfer window if Chelsea are to see an improvement in fortunes next season.
“I think they need to bring in a couple [of strikers]. Obviously I don’t think the problem is only a number nine, whoever comes in,” Hasselbaink tells Compare.bet.
“Good nines can create a goal by themselves here and there, especially in big games where you don’t get a lot of space and you need to create something by yourself.
“The majority of strikers get supplied a lot, so as a collective that needs to be better as well.
“At the moment they’ve got Fofana from Molde, but he needs time, a lot of time.
“They need a couple of out and out strikers that you know can make the difference.
“Strikers you know who can score goals, not somebody who needs time. Somebody who is ready and makes the team better straight away.”
Hasselbaink, who won the Premier League Golden Boot twice in his career, believes in-form Napoli hit-man Victor Osimhen and former Blues ace Tammy Abraham could be good options for Chelsea in attack next season.
Osimhen is set to be one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe this summer following his goalscoring exploits for Napoli in Serie A and the Champions League, and has been linked to a move to big clubs in Europe by multiple top betting sites.
Hasselbaink is a big admirer of Nigerian international Osimhen, but is not convinced he would be the perfect solution to Chelsea’s woes and feels former Blues academy product Abraham could return to Stamford Bridge a better player than before after two successful seasons with Roma.
“He’s [Osimhen] had a good season at Napoli and a lot of teams are looking at him,” adds Hasselbaink.
“He is a good striker, he scores goals, he plays for a big club and he knows the pressure.
“The only thing I find with him is he gets injured a lot, so his availability is not always there, and the intensity in Italy is not as high as in the Premier League so that would be a big concern for me.
“I think they should not overlook going back for Tammy Abraham.
“He knows the club, he’s played in the Premier League before.
“He’s gone to Italy, he’s matured, he’s played in a tough league with a big manager so I think Chelsea shouldn’t overlook him.”
Good nights work 🅰️🅰️ @PauDybala_JR 🔗❤️ Daje Roma! pic.twitter.com/p0b10qqBKy
— Tammy Abraham (@tammyabraham) January 15, 2023
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been made something of a scapegoat for Chelsea’s problems in front of goal this season with the former Arsenal man having been left out of Chelsea’s Champions League squad and also omitted from the squad for recent Premier League games despite Chelsea’s dire need for goals.
Former Netherlands international Hasselbaink feels Chelsea have not played to Aubameyang’s strengths since his arrival last summer from Barcelona, but concedes he would have expected more from the player this season.
“I still think he is a good striker, but how Aubameyang is now you have to play him a little bit differently, more as a box player,” notes Hasselbaink.
“I think you need to do the majority of the running for him and provide him with the chances and then he will score goals.
“I definitely think he has not done enough himself, but I do think in a team that fires and makes lots of opportunities he will score goals.
“If he was playing for Manchester City I definitely think he would be scoring goals. He’s in a team at the moment that is struggling so it makes it harder for him.
“I would have liked to have seen an angrier, hungrier Aubameyang who wanted to show people he can still do it, but I have not had that feeling from him.”
