Chelsea Transfer News: Jose Mourinho Confirms New Striker Hunt, Latest Rumours

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is planning to sign a new striker in the summer, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani the latest to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, per the Sunday Express.

Mourinho currently has three senior strikers in his squad, with Diego Costa the undisputed first choice and Loic Remy and Didier Drogba providing the back-up.

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But Costa has been struggling with a hamstring injury recently, per Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, while Remy has also been sidelined. That has left Mourinho with just the 37-year-old Drogba, and he doesn’t want to be in that situation next season. Mourinho said, per Kevin Palmer of ESPN FC:

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The group of strikers did very well for us, but I just imagine that it is something we can do in a different way. I just imagine this last period of the season only with one striker. Imagine in this moment if we have only had Didier to play Champions League, Premier League, Champions League, Premier League. It would be a difficult situation. We were unlucky to have two strikers injured at the same time. When you have three, one can be injured or suspended, but when you have two out it can be difficult.

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Drogba’s future at the club is still uncertain, with the striker yet to be offered a new contract, per Matt Law of The Telegraph. If he does leave, then Mourinho will need a new signing, and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher is of the view that Chelsea do require attacking reinforcements.

Carragher said, per Sky Sports, “Defensively they’re very strong—and you’ve got Nemanja Matic in there—but with Didier Drogba getting older and Costa suffering with his hamstrings, I think they need another striker, too.”

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The latest name reported to be on Mourinho’s wanted list is Cavani. Cavani scored the equaliser against Chelsea in the first leg of PSG’s last-16 Champions League tie in February.

But Cavani wouldn’t come cheap, and there is also likely to be rival Premier League interest in the Uruguayan. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are also keen on Cavani, per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, amid reports he has handed in a transfer request. Cavani's future at PSG could be dictated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic. B/R's Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently discussed this development:

Cavani is just one of several attackers to have been linked with Chelsea, though. Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette is wanted by Chelsea, per The Sun (h/t Jack De Menezes of The Independent), and Remy could be offered as part of the exchange.

There were also reports that Chelsea are considering meeting the £43 million release clause of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, per Pete Jenson of the MailOnline.

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The calibre of striker Mourinho does sign will depend largely on how he sells the move to his preferred target. With Mourinho settled with his 4-3-3 formation, and Costa as its spearhead, a new striker is unlikely to go straight into the starting lineup.

Mourinho clearly needs quality back-up due to the fitness issues about Costa, but whether a player like Cavani would be prepared to primarily be second choice is another matter.