October 20th 2024.
According to former Manchester United player and football pundit Gary Neville, Chelsea is in need of a top-notch striker to have a shot at becoming genuine Premier League title contenders. Neville's statement came after their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, where Nicolas Jackson scored for the Blues but was not enough to clinch a victory against the Reds, who had Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones on the scoresheet.
Despite the loss, Chelsea has had a positive start to the season under head coach Enzo Maresca, after a long period of instability. However, Neville firmly believes that the West London club needs to make a new signing in the striker position if they want to compete for the Premier League trophy once again.
"I think we are all aware of their weaknesses," Neville expressed on his Sky Sports podcast. "I don't want to single out Nicolas Jackson because I think he can be a valuable asset to a successful squad at Chelsea. But I do believe that having a world-class striker leading the attack, with Jackson as the second striker, would put them in a better position to challenge for the title and catch up with Liverpool in the next few years."
Another football pundit, Daniel Sturridge, also came to Jackson's defense, stating that the media has been too harsh in their criticism of the young striker. So far this season, Jackson has scored five goals and provided three assists in eight Premier League games.
"Nicolas Jackson is crucial to the team's system," Sturridge stated on Sky Sports. "He is excellent at playing in the false nine position, and his finishing is top-notch. I believe we should judge him based on his overall performance, not just statistics, and I have no doubt that he has the potential to become a prolific striker."
Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda also weighed in on the topic, saying that his old club could challenge for the Premier League title if they manage to sign their long-term target, Victor Osimhen.
"Chelsea should always aim to sign the world's best players, and Osimhen definitely falls into that category," Malouda said. "Bringing him on board would elevate Chelsea's level and put them on par with top clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal."
It is clear that the consensus among experts is that Chelsea needs a world-class striker to reach their full potential and compete for top honors. Only time will tell if the club's management will take heed of their advice and make the necessary signing. As for now, all eyes are on Chelsea as they continue to battle in the Premier League.
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