Chelsea is desperate to sign a striker.
Diego Costa’s Stamford Bridge career is all-but over (he filmed himself partying in an Atletico Madrid shirt over the weekend) and the club missed out on top target Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.
Now, Chelsea is being linked with Europe’s top goalscorers, with press reports focused on three names. Here they are in detail, with odds from British bookmakers on how likely they are to sign for Chelsea.
Álvaro Morata, Real Madrid
Álvaro Morata.NurPhoto / SIPA USA / PA Images
The Guardian said Chelsea was chasing Morata earlier this month.
He was originally a Manchester United target. José Mourinho personally called Morata last month, but baulked at Real Madrid’s asking price of between €80 million and €90 million (£71 million to £80 million). United ended up swooping for Everton forward Lukaku, leaving Morata in the shop window.
Reports in Italy suggest Morata would prefer a return to the Serie A, with AC Milan set to make an opening bid of €70 million. But British bookmakers still believe there is a good chance Chelsea can sign Morata.
Current odds are 4/1. This means that for every £1 your bet, you would receive £4 back plus your initial stake if your bet was successful.
Morata’s predatory instincts were captured perfectly by the BT Sport cameras in the Champions League montage below.
Sergio Agüero, Manchester City
Sergio Agüero.Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
Sky Sports reported on Monday that Chelsea has a “serious and strong interest” in signing Agüero for up to £60 million.
But the Evening Standard doubts the transfer will materialise as City would be reluctant to sell a star player to a Premier League title rival.
It would certainly be one of the most audacious signings of the summer transfer window. The Manchester City striker has been a massive success at the Etihad Stadium. He has scored 122 goals since signing in 2011 and has helped the club win two Premier League titles.
Earlier this week, the player was a 28/1 outsider to move to Chelsea yet those odds were slashed to 9/4 in just 24 hours. This means that for every £4 you bet, you would receive £9 back plus your initial stake if your bet was successful.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters
Sky Sports also reported on Monday that Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a key target.
The £60 million-rated 28-year-old is arguably the best Bundesliga player outside of Bayern Munich. He netted 31 goals in 31 starts last season, making him the top scorer in the division.
Reports in Germany on Tuesday indicated that Aubameyang will “stay at Borussia Dortmund this summer” but this is at odds with what the bookmakers are saying.
BREAKING: @Aubameyang7 to stay at @BVB this summer – Sky in Germany. #SSNpic.twitter.com/ZRyyt2Y045
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 18, 2017
Earlier this month, Aubameyang was 33/1 to move to Chelsea yet that price has now been cut to 8/11, even after Sky sources in Germany implied the player could stay at his current club. This means the bookmakers believe he is more likely to transfer to Chelsea than to stay in Dortmund.
Chelsea is not alone in chasing his signature. Aubameyang was linked with cash-rich China Super League club Tianjin Quanjian in June and Liverpool has also reportedly expressed interest in the player.
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