It is no secret that Chelsea are in the market for a striker this summer and have been linked with mega moves for Erling Haaland, Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane.
All three deals would be astronomical in terms of fees and wages, let alone actually getting them out of Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Spurs respectively.
Chelsea’s task of getting Haaland has been made doubly hard with the Germans agreeing to sell Jadon Sancho to Manchester United this summer for the princely sum of £73million.
Dortmund are not going to want to lose two of their brightest prospects in the same window despite being a club known to be willing to sell their better assets if the price is right - Chelsea took advantage of that by bringing Christian Pulisic to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea is probably the least desirable destination Spurs chief Daniel Levy will want to sell Harry Kane to and relations aren’t exactly great between the two clubs since a decade ago when the Blues tried to sign Luka Modric from Tottenham, with Roman Abramovich entertaining the Croatian midfielder on one of his yachts.
A return to Stamford Bridge for Lukaku looks unlikely as well after the Belgian hitman stated his intentions to remain at Inter Milan after two goal-laden seasons in Serie A.
So, what next?
Blues head coach Thomas Tuchel will want to bolster his Champions League-winning squad this window but he will run the rule over returning players this week in the early stages of pre-season before making any decisions.
He has already sanctioned the loan deal for Billy Gilmour to join Norwich City for the 2021/22 season.
Looking at “alternatives” to strengthen a squad that will be battling on all fronts next season for trophies might not appeal to fans but there does come a time when you have to look in a different direction.
One of those, Patson Daka, has already joined Leicester City as they get their business done very early indeed, having also added midfielder Boubakary Soumare.
One name that hasn’t been mentioned with the Blues so far is Danny Ings.
The Southampton striker has reportedly turned down an offer to become the highest-paid player in the club’s history and with one year left on his current deal, wants to test himself at a higher level.
Ings had two injury-hit years at Liverpool before heading to St Mary’s, where he has scored 34 goals in 67 games since joining them permanently following a successful loan from Anfield.
The England international, who missed out on Gareth Southgate’s squad for the EURO 2020 championships this summer, has proven himself to be a prolific goalscorer at Premier League level and has also attracted the interest of the two Manchester clubs, Spurs and a return to Liverpool.
Yet Chelsea’s name has yet to emerge in any links with a swoop for Ings. He might not be the glamorous name some would have hoped for when the transfer window got underway but he knows where the goal is in the Premier League.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has already stated he expects Ings to stay on the south coast. Ings would therefore have to wait another season to get his big move and will want to stay injury-free.
With the Blues potentially losing Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham this summer, though not a certainty by any stretch, Ings’ arrival could certainly fill the void.
