World class 15 G/A striker linked again after Maresca frustrates with Guiu-Nkunku call

Chelsea’s 0-0 draw yesterday against Everton saw Nicolas Jackson really well controlled by the Toffees defence.

They kept him quiet, stopped him running in behind, and cut off the supply to him from Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez. In the end, Chelsea were creating fewer chances at the end of the game than they were at the start, really running out of steam and out of ideas against a resolute Everton defence.

Inevitably, it led to questions about whether the Blues need another option in attack for games where Jackson isn’t able to get the job done. Today, it’s no coincidence that CaughtOffside are back on the Victor Osimhen transfer rumours, claiming that the Nigerian is still a player Chelsea are interested in buying.

He’s got 10 goals and 5 assists on goal with Galatasaray this season, but is surely looking for a route back to a Champions League contender at some point. There’s no doubt he’d have been pretty much the perfect player to bring on yesterday to change the dynamic of a game slipping from our grasp.

Maresca’s striker decision frustrates some fans

In fact, Enzo Maresca had a tall, aerially and physically impressive striker option on the bench in the form of Marc Guiu, and decided not to use him. So perhaps it wouldn’t have changed anything anyway.

Christopher Nkunku is a fantastic player and we see why Maresca wanted to give him a go, but in the driving rain you really want to just try putting some crosses in for the last half an hour. It would have suited Osimhen a lot better than the Frenchman, who prefers the ball on the ground.

In any case, no matter how well Jackson does overall, you can expect stories like this to surface every time he draws a blank.