Chelsea are the first team to make a major impact this January transfer window, acquiring right winger Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund. The 20-year-old American phenom won’t be joining the team until the summer, so while the deal was done now, he won’t be added to the team until next season.
But what about beefing up the attack this season, and what about reinforcements at another position in the front line- striker? What if Olivier Giroud’s ankle injury is ultimately found to be serious and thus shelves him for a very long time? Will the west London club find a new centre forward in the winter transfer market?
Blues boss Maurizio Sarri says no, as he maintains that playing his best overall player, Eden Hazard, in a false nine role would suffice. The Italian believes Alvaro Morata can take care of full time striker duties, but the club needs more depth on the flanks.
“No, because I have the option with Hazard in this position,” Sarri said at his news conference ahead of tonight’s home league clash against Southampton.
“We have Morata and Hazard can play very well in this position as we have seen in the last matches, so I think at the moment I don’t need another striker.”
“Maybe another winger, because now we are in trouble with the injuries of Pedro, of [Callum Hudson-Odoi], [Ruben Loftus-Cheek], so I have options for the striker, but at the moment I have no option for the wingers.”
Southampton at Chelsea FC FYIs
Kick-off: 3:00 pm (BST), 11:00 am (EST) Wednesday January 2, Stamford Bridge
Google Result Probability: Chelsea FC win- 76%, Draw 16%, Southampton win- 8%
Odds via Bet Fair: Chelsea FC 1/4, draw 11/2 Southampton 12/1
Injury report for both teams: go to this link
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction: Chelsea FC 2, Southampton 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.