The Blues have been criticised for their lack of firepower
Wednesday 14 November 2018 09:33, UK
The season is well underway, but with January approaching where do Chelsea fall short and where do they need to strengthen?
Maurizio Sarri is already a record-breaker after beginning his spell in charge with 12 games unbeaten in the Premier League, the longest of any debutant manager since the league's inception 26 years ago.
But despite his early success, and a return to form for Eden Hazard, there is one area in particular where the Blues have been accused of coming up short: up front.
So will Chelsea be splashing the cash in January? We've had a look at the key areas of improvement and the players they've been linked with...
Christensen not expecting January exit
The Sun claims Chelsea are in the reckoning to sign Bournemouth forward Callum Wilson for £35m in January, with Sarri said to be eager to add to his striking options.
Alvaro Morata has five league goals from eight starts but much of his Stamford Bridge career has been inconsistent, while Olivier Giroud is yet to score in the Premier League this season - and according to French outlet Le Foot, could be on his way to Marseille in January anyway.
The Guardian and The Express have both suggested Eden Hazard could still be on his way to Real Madrid, despite missing out on a move to the Spanish capital in the summer, but the man himself has previously told Sky Sports he will not be leaving Chelsea in January.
The Daily Mail also reports Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj will turn down a move to Stamford Bridge in the new year to sign a new deal in Italy.
And Italian website CalcioMercarto claims Sarri has been eyeing up a move for one of Serie A defenders Alessio Romagnoli and Mattia Caldara.
When Chelsea get mentioned by Sky Sports pundits, the lack of a striker who will compete for the Premier League Golden Boot is often brought up as one of their weaknesses.
Last season, Hazard was their top scorer, with Diego Costa, who got 20 goals in their title-winning campaign in 2016/17, moving back to Atletico Madrid after a spell in exile.
"I think all Chelsea are short of is a 20-goal forward," Soccer Saturday pundit Matt Le Tissier said in October. "Alvaro Morata's not showing enough confidence and Olivier Giroud looks like a 15-goal man at best."
The Blues missed out on Gonzalo Higuain in the summer, because of what the Argentine suggested was a lack of desire to bring him to Stamford Bridge from the club.
As well as Calum Wilson, The Sun have also suggested Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi should be on his way to Stamford Bridge, with AC Milan forward Patrick Cutrone apparently a cheaper alternative should he prove too expensive.
Cheaper still could be Genoa forward Krzysztof Piatek, with various newspapers stating Sarri is an admirer of the Polish forward, who is said to be priced around £40m after making a strong start to the season.
Aside from in attack, Chelsea have found their defence more porous than they would like so far this season - and despite conceding only eight goals in the league, they have looked unconvincing at the back in some games.
Centre-halves Gary Cahill and Andreas Christensen have suggested they could leave the club in January, although Christensen then went back on those comments this week, but should they leave the Blues will need more strength in depth in defence.
But it's at right-back where they have been linked with a new face, with Elseid Hysaj reportedly a target to offer more competition for Cesar Azpilicueta, and Davide Zappacosta restricted to a single substitute appearance in the league this season.
The Blues boss has almost been at pains to defend Alvaro Morata during difficult spells for the forward, and has been rewarded in recent weeks with an upturn in form, with the Spaniard scoring three goals in his last three league games.
"He can improve more because the technical potential and physical potential is great, now he has confidence he can improve more," Sarri said after Morata's double against Crystal Palace last week.
Defence is an area where he has been more ready to criticise his team - and after the same game he did just that.
He said: "We need to improve from a tactical point of view. In the first 15 minutes of the second half we were not compact. In the defensive phase we need to improve.
"When we can't cover the ball in the opponent's half we are in trouble. So we need to improve."
Whether that means he will delve into the market for a defender to help bridge the gap to teams like Liverpool, who he previously claimed Chelsea are a "year behind", remains to be seen.
Mark Schwarzer: "I'm not sure [Eden] Hazard won't leave Chelsea in January.
"He's got just under two years left on his contract and Real are having a shocker and if they offer a lot of money for him and Chelsea are adamant he won't re-sign, then what are the club going to do?"
Paul Merson: "I can understand what [Maurizio Sarri] is saying about them being a year away. When you look at the defence, you have David Luiz in a back four you know he's going to make a mistake sooner or later.
"And then there's Alonso at left-back and he plays like a left-back number 10 if I'm being honest. He just goes and does what he wants to do - when you see the highlights and there's a simple ball out to the right [for the opposition] he's 25 yards further up the pitch."
Charlie Nicholas: "[Alvaro] Morata and [Olivier] Giroud don't look like the types to score 20-plus goals so they need someone to pick up the slack when Hazard's goals dry up when he's being blocked off every week by the opposition.
"The defence is also a question mark."
