Chelsea's 2022/23 campaign has been filled by a series of setbacks, resulting in a disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League.
The lowest spot since 1993/94, leaving the English giants out of European competitions in the current season.
Therefore, ahead of preparation for the forthcoming season, the West London club have announced the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach earlier.
Since taking charge, the Argentine manager has overseen a significant influx of new talent into the squad during the transfer window, pushing his side to spend a staggering €400 million in acquiring new players.
Todd Boehly set a new British transfer record, surpassing their own, by paying £115m to acquire Moises Caicedo from Brighton. Their summer spending spree also included substantial fees for other standout talents, such as £58m for Romeo Lavia from Southampton, £52m for Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig, £38m for Axel Disasi from Monaco, £32m for Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal, and £25m for Robert Sanchez from Brighton.
In addition, they secured the services of Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes, Angelo Gabriel from Santos, and Diego Moreira from Benfica.
Chelsea confirmed summer transfers and INs and OUTs in 2023/24
Even with the arrival of several quality players, the London outfits' biggest issue this season remains their attack, much like the previous one. Pochettino's team have only scored five goals, and their attacking prowess has been notably lacking.
While Nicolas Jackson has shown promise with his versatile playstyle, he has struggled to convert chances into goals, managing to score only once and missing some clear opportunities.
Nevertheless, Chelsea's evident requirement is to bring in a number nine, and there's an anticipation that they will make a move in the January transfer window to acquire a fresh striker.
Therefore, we suggest the top five targets Todd Boehly could sign to straighten their front line.
Top 5 players Chelsea should target in January 2024
Ivan Toney (Brentford)
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Mauricio Pochettino and his board are closely monitoring the Bees forward, making initial preparations for a possible transfer move in January.
The Englishman is currently serving a suspension until winter due to a violation of the FA's betting regulations.
According to journalist Simon Philips, Brentford are seeking approximately £80 million for the 27-year-old, however, Chelsea are feeling optimistic about their chances of securing the player once the winter transfer window becomes active, as the player himself is receptive to the idea of joining the London club.
Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
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The 23-year-old star appears to be the ideal fit for Chelsea's playing style, offering a solution to their goal-scoring challenges at Stamford Bridge. Since making his Serie A debut in 2018, the Serbian has netted an impressive total of 61 goals in 140 league appearances while at Fiorentina and Juventus.
Furthermore, the Serbia international has recently expressed his desire to leave the club, however, the Turinian outfit have set a valuation of €70 million for their ace and it's yet unknown whether the Premier League club would be open to paying it.
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
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In search to bolster their attacking options, the Blues are also exploring the possibility of adding a backup full-back for Reece James. One of their top choices is a 22-year-old Dutch talent, who has been thriving with the Bundesliga club.
While there were links to a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, nothing materialized. However, there's a chance that this could change in January, although Leverkusen remain reluctant to part ways with the promising young star.
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
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Mauricio Pochettino had shown a keen interest in securing Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe as the summer transfer window was drawing to a close.
The playmaker is reportedly becoming frustrated due to the limited opportunities he has been getting under Mikel Arteta. This has sparked rumors about the possibility of him seeking an exit from the Emirates Stadium in the upcoming transfer window.
However, since the move from North London to the West didn't happen, Chelsea are resolute in their pursuit of bolstering their options in the attacking midfielder position and the England international is one of the key targets on their list for their January transfer quest.
Raphinha (FC Barcelona)
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In the upcoming January transfer window, the Brazilian player is rumored to be a prime target on Pochettino's list.
The former Leeds United star had an impressive first season with Xavi's side and was poised to become a regular starter this year following Ousmane Dembélé's departure.
Nevertheless, the sudden rise of Lamine Yamal has added a new layer of competition for the right-wing role. As per reports from the Daily Mail, Chelsea's boss has shown a keen interest in securing the Brazilian winger this summer.
The 26-year-old's exceptional skills make him a potentially valuable stand-in for the injured Nkunku, who is unlikely to make a return until at least 2024.