Cole names the only three strikers Chelsea must target

Matt Stead

Joe Cole says Chelsea should “not look outside” a trio of strikers currently in the Premier League.

The Blues are sure to sign at least one first-team forward this summer, with Diego Costa on the verge of a Stamford Bridge exit.

Antonio Conte has informed the Spaniard that he is no longer part of the club’s plans, and is free to look for a new club.

That leaves Chelsea needing to replace him with a proven striker, and Everton forward Romelu Lukaku is the candidate considered most likely.

But former midfielder Cole suggests that two other Premier League strikers should be targeted.

“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.

“Sergio Aguero is in his prime, Alexis Sanchez is in his prime,” Cole continued. “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.”