Chelsea have three names on their shortlist of strikers to sign this summer, with Jose Mourinho to buy one to lead the line for next season.
This term, the Blues have relied on Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba, but in a combined 80 appearances this term they have managed just 20 goals.
That does not compare favourably with the key strikers at rival clubs, with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, and Olivier Giroud of Arsenal having all scored more in 2013-14.
Unsurprisingly, that does not sit well with Jose Mourinho, and he has been quite vocal about his plans to sign a more prolific striker in the summer.
The Daily Mail claim to have unearthed the three men on the Blues manager’s list for the summer, which follow on the next pages.
Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
Diego Costa is amongst the very hardest working strikers in Europe, and his relentless pressing from the front would fit in well at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil Spain international is prolific too, and with 21 goals and three assists in 26 La Liga appearances, he has made the difference in most of the games he has played this season.
Costa has proven effective in the UEFA Champions League too, with five goals and an assist in his four matches, and could be the lift Chelsea need to challenge the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona at the top of the game.
Radamel Falcao (AS Monaco)
Radamel Falcao has been linked with Chelsea ever since he was at Jose Mourinho’s old club FC Porto, and after a brilliant couple of campaigns for Atletico Madrid in front of goal, the Colombian moved to AS Monaco.
Although the principality club have impressed in Ligue 1 this term, with Falcao having scored nine times in his 16 appearances, a knee injury looks set to have curtailed his season.
“I have a team, but no striker,” said Mourinho in comments picked up by French television.
“Falcao does not have a team. A player like him can’t play in front of 3,000 people. Monaco is a club to end [your career with].”
Falcao remains one of the finest finishers in the world, but at the age of 28 would be an expensive acquisition with little sell-on value.
Mario Balotelli (AC Milan)
Mario Balotelli is one of the most talented players in the game today, but his attitude has proven frustrating for Jose Mourinho in the past.
The Portuguese manager coached Balotelli at Inter Milan, and proved immensely difficult to keep in check – as he reveals in the following hilarious video:
Balotelli has all the potential in the world, but if he cannot be controlled by one of the greatest coaches in the game, or find the motivation to truly knuckle down at the team he supports in AC Milan, he would certainly be a risky signing.
SEE ALSO: PES 2014 best players: the 20 highest ranked players on Pro Evolution Soccer 2014.