5 Chelsea players and transfer targets who could be their new Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea is the stuff of legend.

The Ivorian striker was the beating coronary heart of the Blues’ golden period, a colossus who mixed energy, talent and an unparalleled potential to rise to the event when it mattered most, most notably within the 2012 Champions League remaining, the place his unforgettable efficiency helped the Blues carry the trophy for the primary time.

A decade after his departure, Chelsea are nonetheless craving for a successor able to replicating his impression on and off the pitch.

The membership has seen a revolving door of strikers within the post-Drogba period, and whereas some similar to Diego Costa loved stable careers at Stamford Bridge, nobody has been capable of totally step into the legendary striker’s sneakers.

From younger prodigies already making their mark in west London to established European stars, we take a look at 5 gamers we predict have the potential to take up Drogba’s mantle at Stamford Bridge.

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1

Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal in the summertime of 2023, has lots in frequent with Drogba. His bodily presence and work charge mirror that of Drogba’s, whereas his potential to hyperlink up the play is even perhaps higher than the Ivorian’s. He additionally has nice tempo and intelligent motion.

Nevertheless, the place he comes up brief when in comparison with Drogba is his ending. Although he is far improved this time period beneath Enzo Maresca, he nonetheless wastes too many massive probabilities, typically needing two or three clear alternatives to get his title on the scoresheet.

Since transferring to Chelsea, Jackson has scored 23 Premier League targets, but additionally missed a whopping 39 massive probabilities in his brief Blues profession up to now – precisely triple the quantity Drogba missed since this was recorded by the Premier League.

That being mentioned, Jackson remains to be simply 23 years previous, and minus his hit-and-miss ending, his spectacular performances at his peak recommend he is able to main the road at Stamford Bridge for years to return. Nevertheless, consistency and improved shows in entrance of aim will decide if he reaches Drogba’s heights.

2

Shim Mheuka

Chelsea

Shim Mheuka has quickly ascended by Chelsea’s academy ranks since becoming a member of the membership from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

In the course of the 2023/24 season, he usually featured for the Underneath-18s regardless of nonetheless being a schoolboy, netting a formidable 12 targets in 20 appearances throughout all competitions, together with a memorable outing at Stamford Bridge within the Underneath-18 Premier League nationwide remaining towards Manchester United.

Mheuka additionally performed a pivotal function for England within the European Underneath-17 Championship final summer time, scoring of their opening match towards Spain. Extra lately, he marked his first call-up to the Underneath-19s in type, scoring towards France and the Netherlands.

Now 17, Mheuka’s highly effective body, clever motion, and very good ending talents – all qualities Drogba showcased – have already caught the eye of Maresca, with the Italian handing him his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Astana within the Convention League again in December.

There isn’t any doubting that he has a vivid future in west London, and given Drogba was 26 when he signed for Chelsea, there may be loads of time for Mheuka to show he has what it takes to develop right into a Drogba-esque expertise.

3

Liam Delap

Ipswich City

Liam Delap has been one of many Premier League’s finest strikers this season. Massive, sturdy and with a deadly eye for aim, the ahead has scored 10 targets within the high flight for newly promoted Ipswich City and has confirmed to be an actual handful for a few of the high flight’s finest defenders.

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Already linked with a transfer to Chelsea, Maresca, who coached him as a teenager throughout his time in Manchester Metropolis’s youth ranks, is an enormous admirer.

“Liam is a implausible participant, and in addition for his age,” mentioned Maresca again in December earlier than Chelsea had been crushed 2-0 by Ipswich, a recreation during which Delap scored the opening aim. “I believe we spent one 12 months collectively, and he scored 22 to 24 targets. He’s an excellent striker.

“England have many good gamers, many good strikers,” he added. “He is working onerous off the ball and on the ball, understands the sport and may rating targets. I believe he may be an vital participant for England.” For Chelsea too, perhaps?

4

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray/Napoli

Victor Osimhen is probably the closest present participant to Drogba when it comes to type and impression.

The Nigerian ahead’s scoring file at Napoli is actually harking back to Drogba, to not point out persevering with his streak in entrance of aim in a Galatasaray shirt, which is one thing the Ivorian did himself in between his Chelsea spells.

Osimhen got here near becoming a member of Chelsea in the summertime, however the deal fell by previous to his mortgage change to Istanbul.

While there, he has once more proven why he is one of many deadliest strikers in world soccer, scoring 20 targets in 27 video games, together with two towards Tottenham within the Europa League, which might already make him one thing of a Chelsea hero to some.

5

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one in all Europe’s most enjoyable younger strikers and has typically been in comparison with Erling Haaland as a consequence of his bodily attributes and enjoying type. Slightly crucially, he has additionally been talked about in the identical breath as Chelsea star Drogba.

The Slovenian ahead stands at 6 foot 4, making him an actual handful for defenders when the ball is crossed into the field. Not solely is he massive, however he is additionally a terrific header of the ball. Since transferring to Leipzig in 2023, the 21-year-old has scored seven headed targets.

Drogba, in the meantime, discovered the web together with his noggin 17 occasions for Chelsea within the Premier League.

Like Drogba, Sesko has the flexibility to attain from lengthy vary, finest showcased by his beautiful strike towards Werder Bremen in January, the place he unleashed a robust drive that just about shattered the web from 25 yards out.

Reportedly already on Chelsea’s radar, a transfer to Stamford Bridge may give him the prospect to grow to be Chelsea’s subsequent dominant striker, doubtlessly following in Drogba’s footsteps.

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