Chelsea's £1.5bn spending spree has left them without a striker in a remarkable turn of events, as highlighted by their lackluster 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Friday where they failed to register a single shot on target.
The Blues' current predicament stems from a series of injuries that have depleted their attacking options. Nicolas Jackson, their primary striker, has been sidelined for approximately six weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during their match against West Ham. Adding to their woes, 19-year-old Marc Guiu is facing an extended period out with a groin problem, while Mykhailo Mudryk's suspension for an alleged positive test for a banned substance has further limited their offensive capabilities.
The situation worsened during the Brighton match when Noni Madueke appeared to pull his hamstring while creating a chance for Cole Palmer, leaving manager Enzo Maresca with just three fit senior forwards - Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Jadon Sancho. Academy prospect Tyrique George remained the only attacking option on the bench.
Despite investing heavily in attacking talent since the Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly takeover, spending £445m on forwards alone, Chelsea has struggled to secure a reliable number nine. The club's recruitment strategy has raised eyebrows, with significant investments made primarily in wingers and number 10s rather than traditional center-forwards. The decision to freeze out Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who went on to have a successful spell at Marseille, has particularly come under scrutiny.
The team's offensive struggles were evident at the Amex Stadium, where they dominated possession with 69.4% and completed 648 passes but failed to force goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen into making a single save. "It is difficult when you don't have a proper number nine. In the last third we struggled doing things that until a week or two ago we were doing well," Maresca told BBC Sport, acknowledging that this is "the worst moment" since his arrival.
Cole Palmer, who has been a bright spot this season with 26 goals and 13 assists in 2024, has recently seen his form dip, failing to score in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since joining the club. Maresca's attempt to adapt by using Palmer in a more central role, describing him as "more a linking player," has yet to yield results. "Football is a team, it's not tennis," Maresca emphasized when questioned about Palmer's goal drought, suggesting the issues run deeper than individual performances.
The challenge now facing Chelsea is how to improve Christopher Nkunku's form - the France international has managed just one goal in 11 appearances across all competitions - while maintaining Palmer's effectiveness, all without disrupting the team's overall structure. For all their significant investment, Chelsea finds themselves in the peculiar position of having spent vast sums while lacking fundamental attacking options.
