Premier league Club are having to consider the possibility of trying to find a short-term loan option for striker from Saudi Arabia in the form of Roberto Firmino

Similarly, Benzema left Real Madrid last summer but has already been linked with a move to Al-Ittihad. According to reports this week, he failed to appear at a presentation ahead of the club’s pre-season training camp and, as a result, has been left out of the tour entirely.

Chelsea could make a move for either player in the coming weeks, with both potentially desiring a move away. The Telegraph story does add, however, that if either player – or any other striker – arrived this winter, it would almost certainly mean Armando Broja would go, either permanently or on loan.

Chelsea’s forwards have struggled to score.
Christopher Nkunku’s injuries aren’t helping matters.
The Blues have been in excellent form recently, and their win over rivals Fulham last weekend gave them three straight Premier League victories for the first time since October 2022. However, those victories were all won by a single goal, underscoring the need for additional attacking potency.

Cole Palmer, the club’s top striker this season, has nine goals to his name, and while Nicolas Jackson has seven goals, there are plenty of worries about his ability to consistently reach the back of the net when chances fall his way at this stage of his career. Broja and Christopher Nkunku, the club’s other two central attacking options, have only three goals between them, with the latter fighting for fitness since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

While Benzema and Firmino are past their prime, they have combined for 603 goals in their trophy-laden careers and might provide some much-needed experience and firepower to West London in the second half of the season. However, it is unknown how badly Mauricio Pochettino want fresh arrivals, with the Chelsea manager declaring in his last press conference before departing for a three-day break in Spain:

“I will need to be available 24 hours a day in case the sporting director or the owners contact me.” I’m aware that anything can happen in football.

“To be honest, I’d prefer not to hear the phone ring. It is much better for me if it does not ring.”