Chelsea Consider Bid for “Prolific” £39m Striker as Haaland Alternative

Chelsea`s attacking struggles continued in their recent Premier League match against Ipswich Town, drawing 2-2 at Stamford Bridge.

Strikers Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have been struggling to find the net, with Jackson going 11 games without a goal and Nkunku scoring only once in his last 13 appearances.

Unlike Manchester City, managed by Enzo Maresca, Chelsea lacks a dominant centre-forward like Erling Haaland, who has scored 21 league goals this season.

Chelsea is reportedly looking to address this by signing a striker who could be their answer to Haaland for the upcoming season.

Chelsea Targeting Serie A Striker

Chelsea is reportedly among several Premier League clubs interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Arsenal are also interested in the Serbian forward, and a bid of around £39m could be enough to secure his services.

This suggests Chelsea might make a £39m bid for Vlahovic, as Juventus are reportedly willing to sell him this summer with his contract expiring next year.

The decision now rests with Chelsea to negotiate a deal with Juventus to bring Vlahovic to Stamford Bridge, giving Maresca a potential Haaland-esque striker.

Why Dusan Vlahovic Could Be Chelsea`s Erling Haaland

Similar to Haaland, Vlahovic is a physically imposing striker, standing at 6 foot 3, who combines power and pace with good technique.

Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic previously stated that “Vlahovic is better and more complete than Haaland,” highlighting their similar height and Vlahovic`s well-rounded game.

Despite a less prolific season with nine Serie A goals from 12.03 xG, Chelsea might see this as an opportunity to acquire him at a lower price.

Vlahovic has demonstrated his scoring ability in previous seasons, notably scoring 24 goals in the 2021/22 season for Fiorentina and Juventus. Chelsea could aim to help him rediscover that form.

The table shows Vlahovic`s goalscoring records, highlighting his previous prolific season and current form.

Despite recent struggles in Serie A, Vlahovic has also performed well in the Champions League, scoring four goals in six games, indicating his ability to perform at the highest level.

Signing Vlahovic would be a gamble for Chelsea given his current form, but his potential to become a prolific striker like Haaland, if he can regain his previous form, could make it a worthwhile risk for Maresca`s team.