Why Gonzalo Higuain Would Be the Wrong Signing for Chelsea

Chelsea don't need a new striker—they need to get Diego Costa scoring goals again.

As the January transfer window approaches, Jose Mourinho is being linked with a number of frontmen as the rumours surrounding the manager's attempts to arrest Chelsea's slump in form intensify.

Gonzalo Higuain is a name that stands out, per a recent report by MailOnline's Sami Mokbel linking him with the club. His form has been exciting for Napoli this term. Higuain has continued to prove himself as one of Europe's most potent goal threats, notching nine goals in 12 Serie A appearances.

Formerly of Real Madrid, he comes with the sort of profile Chelsea thrive on.

With that said, they shouldn't try to sign him or any other high-profile striker for that matter.

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Higuain has distanced himself from the Chelsea rumours anyway, with his agent and brother stating this week that the player isn't seeking a move from Naples.

"If tomorrow a club arrived and found an agreement with [Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis, it would be another matter and we would talk with him about it, but from our part that intention isn't there," Nicholas Higuain told TuttoNapoli.net (h/t the Daily Express).

"We aren't planning a future elsewhere."

Too often the solution at major clubs is for a transfer splurge to remedy problems. It's seen as the easy way out—buy a star name and everything is fine.

That causes more problems than it solves at Chelsea.

There are some big issues in the defence and midfield that Mourinho will need to address in the transfer market, but his situation up front isn't as drastic as it may seem.

Last season, Costa was excellent in Chelsea's title pursuit. He had his disciplinary problems—indeed, he still does—but when the team needed him to score goals, he duly delivered.

Not many strikers manage 20 Premier League goals in their debut season, especially when they have missed as much time through injury and suspension as Costa did.

Now Chelsea are struggling and Costa's goals have dried up.

The Spanish international is a part of Chelsea's problems that contribute to that lack of threat, yet he's equally part of the solution, too.

Costa is far from a one-season wonder. His time at Atletico Madrid showed us what a deadly force he is in front of goal and the past few months shouldn't allow us to forget that.

He's the sort of striker this team needs. Costa runs the channels and can lead the line in a way few can. Costa's aggressive and, when at his best, is a real handful for defenders to control. He slots in perfectly with what Mourinho is trying to create at Stamford Bridge.

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Mourinho shouldn't be looking outside the club to get that presence back. As a coach, the manager should be trying to help his player rediscover the scoring touch that has so endeared him to fans in west London.

That involves re-channeling his aggression to avoid the juvenile suspensions that have followed him, getting his mind back on playing football and not scrapping like he's in a playground.

Outside of Costa, Loic Remy is a more than capable deputy. Radamel Falcao has failed miserably—which is a point of frustration for Mourinho—although another marquee signing isn't the solution to replacing him.

What Chelsea require is back-up to Costa, which Higuain is simply too talented to provide.

The system Chelsea play, the way Mourinho's squad has been constructed, doesn't lend itself to having two high-profile strikers. Costa is Chelsea's No. 1, and when Mourinho gets him back to his best, he'll rightly remain as such.

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The task ahead of Mourinho is to nurture an up-and-coming talent to complement what Chelsea have. Whether that's by bringing Patrick Bamford back from his Crystal Palace nightmare or utilising Bertrand Traore more centrally, Chelsea have to show more faith in those coming through.

Looking beyond January, will Dominic Solanke's loan spell with Vitesse Arnhem this season give him a platform to become a squad player under Mourinho and continue his development?

These are the questions Chelsea must be asking themselves now.

By dipping into the market for a player such as Higuain, the fear is that their hands will become tied over that crucial youth development. In the strictest sense, signing Higuain wouldn't be a panic buy. When we consider where Chelsea are right now, it most certainly would be.

The Blues have hit the panic button far too often this term, and January shouldn't throw up a reason to do so again.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.