Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole says Antonio Conte must look at three strikers to replace Diego Costa.
As Costa is set to leave the Blues after saying Conte had texted him to tell him he was not required next season, Chelsea must fill that void.
Thus, Conte is on the lookout for a new forward and former Blue Joe Cole believes only three men fit the bill.
Everton stat Romelu Lukaku is one of the player’s Cole thinks Chelsea should be targeting. The former Blues striker has been heavily linked with a return to the capital and he has apparently decided on his destination after announcing he is leaving Everton.
“Obviously the Costa thing has come out. Conte has told him that he wants him out so you would be looking at a striker,” he told Goal.
“Lukaku, there’s a market for him, and you are competing for players. I like Lukaku. I’d take Lukaku, he is like for like with Costa, but they only need one or two players and just keep the continuity going.
“I don’t know his character so it is hard to say [whether the comeback could affect him], but I would say is that the pressure is different when you play for Chelsea, rather than Everton. He is younger [than Costa], that’s in his favour.”
The 35-year-old also says Conte should be looking at Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez and Man City’s Argentinian star Sergio Aguero.
“Sergio Aguero is in his prime, Alexis Sanchez is in his prime,” added Cole. “I think one of them three could be enough to make sure Chelsea are not weakened and maybe strengthened a little bit as well. The club will have to do their due diligence on the characters as well.
“The financial structure of it and the cost… I wouldn’t look outside of Lukaku, Sanchez and Aguero. [Alvaro] Morata is another one but he has never played in England so there is a little question mark there. Certainly they would be the players to look at.”
See Also
Chelsea boss text message to Diego Costa revealed
Graeme Souness: ‘This Chelsea player will leave in the summer!’
Gianfranco Zola tells Chelsea to replace Diego Costa with this player
