Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that the club are in the market for a new striker.
After finishing last season as the fifth-lowest scorers in the Premier League, the Blues have attempted to solve their goalscoring issues via the transfer market.
They signed France international Christopher Nkunku from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig and Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.
However, an injury to Nkunku in pre-season has left them light in the final third, with Armando Broja still injured and Romelu Lukaku expected to leave the club.
Jackson has been given the responsibility of leading the line for Chelsea’s opening two league games, including Sunday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to West Ham United.
Speaking after the match, Pochettino revealed that the club were hoping to sign a forward before the transfer window shuts at the start of September.
“It is a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja but they are injured,” Pochettino told talkSPORT.
“It is not easy in this moment to find the right profile. We are in the process, working to see if we can add some players in this area.
“But it is a job that is not easy for the club. For sure, they are working really hard to add some players. If it is not possible, we need to wait until Nkunku and Broja will be ready and we have the help of Mason [Burstow].
“I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances that we created, we need to be more clinical. It is not only the strikers that need to be clinical in front of goal.”
Chelsea had been linked with a move for French striker Elye Wahi, who decided to remain in France and sign for last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up Lens.
The Blues are also believed to be interested in signing USA international Folarin Balogun from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
A recent report claimed that Chelsea have held “tentative” discussions with the Gunners over a deal for the 22-year-old.
Balogun, who is valued at £50m by Arsenal, enjoyed a successful loan spell with Reims last season, racking up 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 matches.
