Chelsea must target £82million Premier League ready star – Blues could offload two strikers in the summer

Chelsea should sign Argentina’s World Cup winner Julian Alvarez with Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap to potentially depart.

That’s the view of talkSPORT co-host and ex-Blues defender Jason Cundy, who views the former Manchester City striker as the missing piece of the jigsaw at Stamford Bridge.

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Alvarez is currently in his second season at Atletico Madrid, however doubts have been raised over his long-term future in the Spanish capital.

The 26-year-old, who hasn’t found the back of the net in LaLiga since November 1, is believed to be keen on an exit in the hopes of furthering his career at the highest level.

Diego Simeone’s side, whose last LaLiga title success came in the Covid-affected 2020/21 season, have been unable to mount a stellar title challenge ever since.

And they have also struggled in the Champions League having been dumped out in the group stage, quarter-finals and round-of-16 in the past three campaigns respectively.

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have both been linked with Alvarez, while talkSPORT understands that Arsenal have held explanatory talks regarding a summer swoop.

However, reports in Argentina claim Chelsea look to rival the Gunners and have held negotiations with the striker’s agent over a return to the Premier League in an £82m deal.

That would amount to a fraction over the £81.8m Atletico paid Manchester City for his services in August 2024.

Crown Jul

Alvarez has scored 40 goals in 89 games across all competitions for Atletico – with 11 of those strikes coming this term – and Cundy believes the 2022 World Cup winner and two-time Copa America champion is the right type of profile to improve the Blues’ frontline.

Cundy told talkSPORT’s Inside Chelsea show. “We often talk about an off the peg type of player, he fits that type of player that we need.

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“That is the type of player I’d like us to sign more of. He’s Premier League ready.

“You’re not going to be waiting for someone to adapt to the Premier League.

“There’s a lot to like about him, but it’s a lot of money.”

Alvarez’s possible arrival would also add further competition for places under Liam Rosenior.

Chelsea already have summer signings Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to call upon, however it is Senegalese international Jackson who is most likely to make way for Alvarez.

‘Burned his bridges’

Jackson is currently on a season-long loan at Bayern Munich which could turn into a £70m transfer this summer should the Bundesliga giants opt to make the deal a permanent one.

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Cundy believes there could be a summer shake-up among Chelsea’s forwards which is likely to see Jackson sold.

“It feels like Jackson’s going to go,” he added. “It feels like that bridge has been burned even though there’s a new manager.

“My guess would be that maybe Liam Delap goes on loan, that might be an option.

“He feels a bit raw, he’s had one season in the Premier League. Maybe he needs to go and play every week.”

Chelsea have shared the goals across the team in the Premier League this season with Pedro leading the way with nine goals.

Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto have done their bit to chip in with the goals, however Delap’s struggles with injury and game time means he has netted just once in the league this season.

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The 23-year-old was even deployed as a right winger in last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal which proved to be a frustrating night for him.

That prompted Gabby Agbonlahor to express his concern for the former Ipswich star who ‘looked lost’ during the tie.

“What I didn’t understand was Liam Delap on the right,” the former Aston Villa striker told talkSPORT last week.

“I could play on the wing because I was quick but if one sort of striker couldn’t play on the wing it’s Liam Delap.

“He looked lost. He got the ball, he tried to take on Hincapie, and lost it every time.”

“This isn’t working,” he added. “I said when he joined Chelsea that I thought he should have gone to a team like Everton.

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“Develop there for a couple of years and then make the big move to a top-six side. I think the jump from Ipswich to Chelsea was too much.

“When I look at him as a striker, I like him – he can hold up the ball well, he’s a good finisher, but he just doesn’t look sharp enough for the top level of the Premier League.

“Someone like [Victor] Osimhen was the striker they should have gone out and got.”