Enzo Maresca has assessed his in-tray at Chelsea and he wants to sign a striker as one of his first pieces of business with the Blues.
It remains to be seen what formation the Italian will look to implement at his new club, having used a 4-3-3 regularly at Leicester as he secured the Foxes’ return to the Premier League.
Last season, Nicolas Jackson was the Blues’ top scoring striker, netting 17 goals in 44 games in his debut season after joining from Villarreal, taking time to settle on the back of his £32m move but eventually hitting form.
Behind him, however, there is little depth. Christopher Nkunku can play the role, but is a different style of forward and managed just 14 appearances in an injury-hit season. Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana appear to be a way off making the cut, and Romelu Lukaku‘s future undoubtedly lies away from Stamford Bridge.
With the Blues looking to invest in forward areas, they have turned their attentions to Samu Omorodion, a 6ft 4ins Spain U21 international who only joined Atletico Madrid last summer.
Chelsea are targeting Atletico Madrid forward Samu Omorodion for a potential summer move
The 20-year-old joined Madrid last season and spent the year on loan with Alaves in LaLiga
Enzo Maresca is looking to improve Chelsea’s fortunes as he takes charge of the club having joined from Leicester
They face competition to secure his services, however. The 20-year old has also been the subject of enquiries from West Ham and Nottingham Forest this window after impressing on a loan spell at Alaves last season, despite only scoring eight goals in 35 league games, which made him their top scorer in La Liga.
Omorodion recently switched agents with his family taking on more responsibility for his management, and is a man in demand with Roma, AC Milan and Napoli also expressing interest in his services.
Atletico, however, are reluctant to sell cheaply. The money is there, though – with the Blues also monitoring Jhon Duran of Aston Villa and could be set to pay £40million for the Colombian, while Dominic Solanke has also been on their radar.
Omorodion was born to Nigerian parents, moving to Seville from Melilla at a young age. ‘I don’t think about Nigeria,’ he recently said of a potential call-up to the national side. ‘My goal is to debut with the senior side and have my career in Spain. Spain has given me the opportunity and I am very grateful for it.’
He played for Sevilla and…