Chelsea are actively seeking to bolster their attacking prowess in the January transfer window, eyeing potential moves for Roberto Firmino or Karim Benzema, according to The Telegraph.
The West London club are considering options beyond Europe, with both players speculated to leave Saudi Arabia and return to the continent.
Chelsea have faced challenges in consistently finding the back of the net this season, with summer signings Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku yet to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku, who missed the first half of the season, has been grappling with injuries since joining Chelsea.
However, he is expected to resume full training this week after being sidelined due to a hip problem sustained in a substitute appearance during Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Luton at the end of the previous month.
The combination of Nkunku’s injury woes and Jackson’s underwhelming performances has prompted Chelsea to explore alternative attacking options.
Despite links to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, the financial demands make the Nigeria striker an unlikely target for the Blues this month.
In light of this, Chelsea are considering Firmino and Benzema as potential transfer targets.
According to Marca, Benzema, who joined Al Ittihad last summer after his Real Madrid contract expired, has not returned to training after being granted time off.
Manager Marcelo Gallardo has consequently excluded him from the first-team set-up, raising questions about the 36-year-old’s future with the Saudi side.
Despite this, Benzema has maintained an impressive record, scoring 12 goals in 20 appearances for Al Ittihad.
Roberto Firmino, on the other hand, is reportedly open to a return to the Premier League after losing his starting position at Al Ahli.
The Brazilian forward has struggled since moving to Saudi Arabia, scoring only three goals in 19 games. A key player in Liverpool’s success, Firmino left Anfield as a free agent last summer, joining the list of high-profile signings by Saudi clubs.
The South American formed a formidable attacking trio with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, contributing significantly to Liverpool’s triumphs in the Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, Emirates FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
During his time at Anfield, Firmino scored 111 goals and provided 79 assists in 362 appearances after joining from Hoffenheim in 2015.
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