Chelsea have a battle on their hands to see who can become Joao Pedro’s backup as main Blues striker.
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Chelsea are in preseason training under their new manager Xabi Alonso, and there are some big decisions to make in the next few weeks.
Half of the first team squad is present, the other half will be drip fed back in week by week as they return from post-World Cup holidays. That gives different players the chance to shine and impress Alonso before things get crowded.
Chelsea face big questions over multiple strikers
Some really big questions for the new boss come up front. He’s got a few options to choose from, and not all will stick around in the first team squad. Joao Pedro is already there, and will be first choice next season. But who stays to work with him?
Nicolas Jackson will soon be back from his post-World Cup break to compete with Liam Delap and new signing Emmanuel Emegha to be JP’s backup.
The Athletic’s take is pretty clear – keep Jackson as the best qualified backup to Joao Pedro. Sell Liam Delap to anyone who will take him. Loan out Emegha (with a recall clause in case of injury), and loan Marc Guiu.
We think most fans would concur with that assessment – but it won’t be easy to get it all to work.
In other news…
Chelsea’s most ambitious transfer attempt of the summer is being rumoured right now – a €100m purchase and loan back.
Liam Rosenior has taken over at his new job, meaning we’re hearing for the first time a few quotes about what he thought went wrong in his time at Chelsea.
Regardless of that, the most urgent business is to get shot of Enzo Fernandez. How can an English premier league club employ him after his thuggish game against us and for his team’s political banner? He is a prize examplar of his government and their attitude to the Falklands, he… Read more »