Chelsea want to sign “one of the best CFs in England”

Chelsea enter the Xabi Alonso era somewhat unsure of where they will fall when the dice are rolled. Will they mount a charge that will take them back into the Champions League? Will they surprise a few and fight for the Premier League title?

Pre-season has been something of a mixed bag so far in as far as results are concerned, but there is a lot to like about Alonso’s Chelsea in their nascent stage, with the sharp-thinking coach wringing out the negativity that has affected the culture over the past several years.

The BlueCo project may well be heading toward its most exciting period, with the signings made this summer certainly speaking of a boardroom in concert, a club thinking as one as they provide the new manager with the right tools to sculpt success.

There’s no question that Chelsea need to keep on building, especially in attack. That said, Joao Pedro has extended his contract at Stamford Bridge after a fantastic maiden year at the club.

How Joao Pedro can build on his first season at Chelsea

Last summer, Chelsea beat Newcastle United to the signing of Brighton’s Pedro, landing him for a £60m fee.

Despite being overlooked by Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Brazil’s disappointing World Cup campaign, the 24-year-old finished the season with 20 goals in all competitions. He was Chelsea’s top scorer for the year.

A dynamic and smart striker, Pedro has played across a range of attacking roles throughout his career in England – Watford then Brighton now Chelsea – but he was principally used as a centre-forward last term.

For Alonso, unlocking stubborn low blocks and outplaying opponents is his bread and butter. Pedro’s flair and elegance will help with this, and considering how often he would drop deep and influence last year it’s not improbable that the Brazilian will find himself pulled away that out-and-out striker’s berth from time to time

Danny Welbeck has already been signed from Brighton this summer, and though both Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap have been deemed surplus to requirements, Chelsea could still rework a number of wires in the final third.

Welbeck adds depth and experience, but Chelsea need a No. 9 who can lead the line for years to come. Alonso has his sights set on an ambitious target.

Chelsea in talks to sign Premier League striker

Chelsea need a striker who will score them goals. Pedro has shown he has the capacity to produce impressive numbers, but a more physical and imposing centre-forward could be the perfect piece to complete the set this summer.

Well, according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have joined Manchester United in plotting a bid to sign Brentford’s Igor Thiago, though the Bees are determined not to sell. Still, Chelsea can be persistent, having already reached out to intermediaries to get the ball rolling, suggesting talks have already been held.

Brentford might not want to sell, but previous reports have suggested that Thiago could cost suitors around £80m after his top-drawer breakout campaign in the Premier League.

After all, last season, Newcastle asserted in no uncertain terms that Alexander Isak would not be going anywhere, and he signed for Liverpool in the end.

Thiago would be worth the money. Erling Haaland was the only man to outscore him in the Premier League last season, leading journalist Zach Lowy to hail him as “one of the best strikers in England“.

It’s clear that Chelsea would land a prolific and physical upgrade to front their system. Alonso is all about neat and intricate patterns in the build-up, but his system does need a first-class attacking presence to finish sequences off.

The 25-year-old Thiago was striking with a 26% conversion rate in the Premier League last season, remarkable given that he scored 22 times. Pedro’s stoodf at 21% – still impressive, but a level below.

Pedro is the more technical player, but there is a reason that Ancelotti, one of the greatest managers in history, called Thiago up to front his system this summer.

He outscored his countryman in a team of ostensibly lower quality, and it was Thiago’s first real shot at the Premier League. He’s only just getting started.