Athletic: Chelsea spoke to striker’s agents last summer and have him “on their shortlist” | OneFootball

The race for strikers hots up every summer, and this year feels like it could be a bumper edition.

So many of the top sides in the Premier League and beyond are keen to make a crucial goalscoring addition, and as ever there is a limited supply of talent.

Pressure on Chelsea to deliver new striker option this summer

Jonathan David celebrates Champions League win with Lille. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Last year Chelsea looked around all summer and ended up keeping their powder dry, relying on Nicolas Jackson to improve and carry them. That worked well for a while, but after Christmas his goals dried up, and the team’s form did too.

Not buying anyone a year ago only increases the Blues’ need to get something done this year, and while the focus has mainly been on the likes of Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko, there’s a good chance we have to look elsewhere.

The Athletic have done a long read on Jonathan David today, and there are plenty of links with us in there.

Chelsea spoke to David’s agents last summer

“Chelsea have also monitored his situation and are in the market for a striker to compete with Nicolas Jackson,” their piece reads.

“As with London rivals Arsenal, David is on their shortlist but not at the top of it. A new No 9 is viewed as a priority, and they want someone with a skill set similar to Jackson’s — good hold-up and link play and the ability to stretch defences — but ideally with more goals to their game. Chelsea did speak to David’s camp last summer.”

As we suspected, it sounds like David isn’t what they desire most – but his availability on a free transfer makes him an option that any team in need of a striker would have to consider.