Chelsea transfer news: Diego Costa not enough in attack and Antonio Conte must sign a new striker – according to Ray Wilkins
Spaniard leading the line on his own and Wilkins thinks Blues could be caught out once ace is suspended
RAY WILKINS has urged Chelsea to buy another striker as cover for Diego Costa.
The Blues star has already struck 11 times in the league this season and looks a man reborn under Antonio Conte.
Chelsea are top of the table after winning eight on the trot, with in-form Costa leading them to crucial victories over the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.
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But the Spaniard is just one booking away from suspension after racking up four yellow cards early on, and Wilkins feels the Chelsea juggernaut could come shuddering to a halt once Costa is banned.
Summer signing Michy Batshuayi is yet to get a chance to prove himself due to Costa’s form, but Wilkins isn’t convinced the Belgian is the right man to fill the breach.
Chelsea have no other recognised strikers in their squad apart from youngster Dominic Solanke, and Carlo Ancelotti’s former assistant is adamant that more firepower is needed come January.
He told Premier League Daily via : “Chelsea’s squad is very strong right across the board, but you would concede that they are so reliant on the forward areas and what I would say is that they do not have another recognised centre forward other than Diego Costa.
“They can play with all these smaller guys and play Hazard through the middle and Michy Batshuayi has come for £30m and we haven’t really seen him yet.
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“Of course, there are lots of youngsters out on loan which is another issue. But if they were to lose Costa that would be a massive, massive blow. They need another centre-forward for sure and they should try and rectify that during the window.
“They have the experience in there of players who have won titles, big game players if you like, and that is another key factor for them. I still feel Chelsea have the most solid, resilient squad.
“For the last six or seven years it has been the same with Arsenal. They go up to Christmas and they look like world beaters and then after the holidays they have a nose dive. They can’t seem to go the distance.”