Thomas Tuchel has set the record straight and has outlined his priorities for the rest of the transfer window. After signing Raheem Sterling, all efforts turn towards the defence as Chelsea look to strengthen their squad depth. Antonio Rudiger has at last been replaced with Kalidou Koulibaly, but Andreas Christensen has left a void that is yet to be filled. Jules Kounde and Presnel Kimpembe are two targets that the Blues are currently considering.
The Blues lost Romelu Lukaku early on in the transfer window. The 29-year-old's heart was set on a return to Inter Milan leaving Chelsea a striker short for the upcoming season. Robert Lewandowski was considered as an option for Todd Boehly's Blues but the Poland international was set on a move to Barcelona.
Tuchel has played around with Kai Havertz as a false 9 on several occasions and seemingly prefers this. Luckily there are still a couple of options for Tuchel to rely on including Timo Werner. Last season, Werner was openly unhappy with the lack of game time he was offered. He was not particularly favoured by the Chelsea boss on the pitch but had shown signs of improvement when rewarded with minutes. The German international was tipped to leave this summer with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool once interested in a potential move. Now it looks like he may have a fair chance to rectify his reputation at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel and the Chelsea team had their first pre-season game of the summer in the early hours of Sunday morning, facing Club America and left with a 2-1 victory. Werner was amongst the squad as was the forgotten man, Michy Batshuayi. Batshuayi and Havertz had the joy of playing upfront for the Blues but were unsuccessful in making inroads on the scoreboard. They were gifted opportunities and big chances but were lacking in front of goal. One player who rode his luck and took his chance was Werner.
The German has often received a lot of backlash in his Chelsea career. His lack of consistency in front of goal in his first season warranted a reputation that he has since struggled to shake off. He still remains a fan favourite which is due to his desire to give his all in every single minute that he plays.
Before moving to Chelsea he was a 30-goal-a-season striker that was admired by many. Jurgen Klopp was one of his admirers before Chelsea snatched him from Liverpool's grasp in 2020. Assuming that he can replicate his RB Leipzig form for the Blues, Chelsea could find comfort in relying on the 26-year-old in the upcoming season.
Batshuayi could also be a part of Thomas Tuchel's plans for the season. Speaking about his number 9 options to the media in Los Angeles, the Chelsea head coach said: "We have Timo Werner as a nine, we have Kai Havertz as a nine, we have Michy Batshuayi as a number nine, we have Armando Broja as a nine and Raheem Sterling as a nine, maybe, so let’s see how things work out."
In Tuchel's list there are three players out of the five who are natural strikers and only one who has played consistently for the Chelsea first team - Werner. Last season for club and country he managed 11 goals and 6 assists in almost half the minutes he played in the season before. There's evidence in progression for the forward but will it be enough to hold down the fort for Chelsea next season?
Let us know your thoughts about Timo Werner and Chelsea's attacking options in the comments below!
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