CHELSEA had hoped to sign Napoli superstar Dries Mertens this summer to help provide some much-needed depth to their attacking ranks.
Tammy Abraham has been in fine form this season, but Olivier Giroud – bar a late flurry of goals before the lockdown – and Michy Batshuayi have struggled.
Reports claim Mertens has put pen to paper on a new three-year contract at Napoli, sending Frank Lampard back to the drawing board.
With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at FIVE other strikers the Chelsea chief could turn to this summer, now free from the club’s transfer ban…
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
BARCELONA have come out and said all-but TWO players are for sale this summer – with only Lionel Messi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen safe.
The LaLiga giants are hoping to raise funds to bankroll a series of high-profile transfers.
And that means £108million man Griezmann – who only joined the Nou Camp squad last summer – could be on the move after a disappointing debut season.
Chelsea could use a player of the France international’s experience – and still aged only 29, his best years could be around the corner.
EDINSON CAVANI
THE Uruguayan legend has been linked with a move away from Paris Saint-Germain all year.
In January, Cavani was said to have agreed to join Atletico Madrid at the end of the season on a free transfer – only for the move to collapse.
While Cavani may be well into the final years of his career, now 33, he could fill a hole for the Blues while they wait to find a new, long-term option.
The former Napoli star is a proven goalscorer and has netted 50 times for Uruguay, while adding 200 goals in just 300 matches for PSG.
For a free transfer, the Blues could do a lot, lot worse…
But Chelsea will face competition, with Manchester United, Newcastle and Inter Milan interested – as well as Inter Miami in the MLS.
LUKA JOVIC
HUGE things were expected of the Serbian striker when he left Eintracht Frankfurt in a mega-money deal last summer.
But Jovic has failed to deliver, crushed by the weight of expectation from fans at the Bernabeu.
He is being linked with a move away from Madrid – either permanently or on loan – this summer after scoring just twice in 24 matches this season.
And Chelsea could take a bit of a gamble in hoping Jovic can rediscover his form from his Bundesliga days – where he scored 27 goals in just 48 matches a season ago.
Arsenal and Newcastle are also interested, along with Serie A giants AC Milan.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
CHELSEA have been chasing Dembele all season now, facing competition from Man Utd.
The French former Fulham and Celtic striker has been in red-hot form for Lyon this season.
Still young, aged just 23, Dembele would be a strong option for the future, with Abraham ably assisting him up front.
Lyon’s president has admitted they may need to sell the striker too – which is great news for Lampard.
DIEGO COSTA
NOW this one is NOT one for the future…
But Costa is still loved by Chelsea fans and hated by supporters of every other Premier League club for his ability to rile up his opponents.
Costa has revealed he could stick around at Atletico Madrid until the end of his contract in June 2021.
But Atleti may decide to cash in now rather than lose him for nothing at the end of next season.
And if he fancies one last swansong, Costa could do a lot worse than play the role of understudy to Abraham for at least one season back at Stamford Bridge.
Costa scored 59 times in 120 games for the Blues across three seasons.
