{"id":47342,"date":"2026-05-18T23:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T03:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/chelsea-enter-race-to-sign-90m-striker\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T23:00:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T03:00:32","slug":"chelsea-enter-race-to-sign-90m-striker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/chelsea-enter-race-to-sign-90m-striker\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea enter race to sign \u00a390m striker"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/chelsea-enter-race-to-sign-90m-striker\/#Chelsea_serious_about_signing_Premier_League_striker\" >Chelsea serious about signing Premier League striker<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/chelsea-enter-race-to-sign-90m-striker\/#Why_Thiago_could_become_Chelseas_new_Diego_Costa\" >Why Thiago could become Chelsea&#8217;s new Diego Costa<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/chelsea-enter-race-to-sign-90m-striker\/#Hes_better_than_Colwill_Chelsea_reveal_contract_talks_with_52m_%E2%80%98elite_defender\" >He&#8217;s better than Colwill: Chelsea reveal contract talks with \u00a352m &#8216;elite&#8217; defender<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>It hasn&#8217;t been a great season for Chelsea, but one of the football club&#8217;s greatest strengths is its ability to endure and persevere through tough times.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>The appointment of Xabi Alonso, which is expected to be finalized at the end of this month, certainly looks like a step in the right direction, even if the Blues somehow fail to qualify for Europe this term.<\/p>\n<p>    Described by analyst James Allcott as a &#8220;tactical genius&#8221;, Alonso brings fresh ideas and has been given far more authority than his predecessor at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>But one mission remains constant: Chelsea&#8217;s determination to sign a new striker, given the deceitfulness of their current strength.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"chelsea-getting-serious-about-premier-league-striker\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chelsea_serious_about_signing_Premier_League_striker\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Chelsea serious about signing Premier League striker<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chelsea have suffered some setbacks this season, but that&#8217;s not to say they&#8217;re wrong. And BlueCo has put the weight of managing a team in west London like a millstone on the necks of so many coaches, churning through managers like there&#8217;s no tomorrow.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Chelsea&#8217;s permanent manager led by Boley<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>manager<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>game<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>PPM<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>liam rosenia<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>twenty three<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.52<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Enzo Maresca<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>92<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.97<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>Mauricio Pochettino<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>51<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.78<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>graham potter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>31<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>1.42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>But Alonso has elite potential and could be a transformative appointment. But he needs help and it needs to start up front as too many forwards have failed to bring success this season.<\/p>\n<p>Chelsea&#8217;s interest in Brentford centre-forward Igor Thiago is starting to grow, with the Brazilian considered one of the best options on the market, with the interest evident from the Blues&#8217; dugout, according to TEAMtalk.<\/p>\n<p>    Brentford paid a club record \u00a330m to sign Thiago in July 2024, but it is understood the Londoners would like to triple that sum if he leaves this summer.<\/p>\n<p>Aggressive and imposing, Thiago is a superstar on the rise and his profile could mark the proverbial return of Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-thiago-could-be-chelsea-39-s-new-diego-costa\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Thiago_could_become_Chelseas_new_Diego_Costa\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Why Thiago could become Chelsea&#8217;s new Diego Costa<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bailey may think Thiago fits the bill as an &#8220;elite-level striker&#8221; that Chelsea are looking for, but despite his versatile return in front of goal this season, the Brentford frontman may not be the solution to Chelsea&#8217;s problems &#8211; especially at a \u00a390m transfer fee.<\/p>\n<p>This season, the 24-year-old has scored 22 goals in 37 appearances in the Premier League, winning 5.4 duels per game. He is prolific and physical, which is exactly what the Chelsea side need.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps it will evoke the spirit of Costa, who was deemed &#8220;one of the best strikers in football&#8221; by Jose Mourinho in 2014. The Portuguese manager was signed from Atl\u00e9tico Madrid for \u00a332m that year, after they stormed to the Premier League title.<\/p>\n<p>Costa, now 37 and retired, was once one of the Premier League&#8217;s most feared forwards and arguably one of the most attacking and prolific goalscorers of his time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Chelsea &#8211; Most goalscoring season in the Premier League<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>season<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>the goal<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Didier Drogba<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>09\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>29<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>jimmy floyd hasselbaink<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>00\/01<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>twenty three<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>jimmy floyd hasselbaink<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>01\/02<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>twenty three<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>frank lampard<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>09\/10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>twenty two<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>cole palmer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>23\/24<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>twenty two<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Diego Costa<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>14\/15<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>20<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Diego Costa<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>16\/17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>20<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>And in 2014\/15, it&#8217;s worth remembering that the Brazilian-born striker spearheaded Jose Mourinho&#8217;s title bid, making just 26 appearances but still scoring 20 goals. In total, the nomadic star made 120 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 59 goals and providing 21 assists.<\/p>\n<p>Thiago may bear some resemblance to the retired bagman, but it&#8217;s hard to say with confidence that he&#8217;s at the same level at this point.<\/p>\n<p>Thiago has been a consistent scorer throughout the season, but his last goal against a top-eight side in the Premier League came in November, and at times he feels left wanting. In fact, he only scored two such goals during the year, against Liverpool and Brighton.<\/p>\n<p>Is he the man to take Chelsea forward? Does he have the nuance and proven qualities to succeed on the biggest stage? He has converted eight penalties in the Premier League this season and it is hard to imagine Cole Palmer stepping aside to give him the spot-kick specialist badge that Alonso has earmarked.<\/p>\n<p>    Thiago may be a talented striker, but he is nearing the end of his first season as a regular in England&#8217;s top flight and there is a sense that Alonso could do better for a whopping \u00a390m rather than making the Brentford star the definitive marker of the first transfer window.<\/p>\n<p>Costa-esque or not, BlueCo will have to tread carefully here as so many misfires have hampered their progress in recent years.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                              \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"better-than-colwill-chelsea-open-talks-to-sign-diomande-for-alonso\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>                        <\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hes_better_than_Colwill_Chelsea_reveal_contract_talks_with_52m_%E2%80%98elite_defender\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tHe&#8217;s better than Colwill: Chelsea reveal contract talks with \u00a352m &#8216;elite&#8217; defender<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Xabi Alonso&#8217;s first signing at Chelsea could be as a defender.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It hasn&#8217;t been a great season for Chelsea, but one of the football club&#8217;s greatest strengths is its ability to endure and persevere through tough times. The appointment of Xabi Alonso, which is expected to be finalized at the end of this month, certainly looks like a step in the right direction, even if the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[9226,200,5295,40,180,43,266],"class_list":{"0":"post-47342","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-90m","9":"tag-chelsea","10":"tag-enter","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-race","13":"tag-sign","14":"tag-striker"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}