CHELSEA CONSIDERING POSSIBLE LOAN MOVE FOR BENZEMA OR FIRMINO

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Chelsea could turn their attention to Karim Benzema and Roberto Firmino, as they look to address their lack of firepower in January.

Despite investing over £1billion on players since Todd Boehly took over two years ago, the Blues are prepared to spend again this month with a striker top of their wish list.

Nicolas Jackson has scored eight goals in 23 games in all competitions after joining from Villarreal for £37m in the summer, while £50m signing Christopher Nkunku has scored once in three Premier League appearances after missing the first three months of the season with a knee injury.

Of the teams in the top half of the Premier League table, only Manchester United and West Ham have scored fewer goal than Chelsea’s return of 35 in 21 games and Mauricio Pochettino is eager to solve the issue this month

It was reported last week that Chelsea have a strong interest in Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen, who has a £103million release clause.

Sources close to the 25-year-old have indicated that the Nigeria striker is open to joining the Blues.

But that deal, given its cost, is more likely to gather pace in the summer – particularly given Osimhen is at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, there is growing belief that Ivan Toney, who is also on Arsenal’s radar, will remain at Brentford until the end of the season after returning to action following his eight month-ban.

Coupled with the need to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, that could force the Blues to settle for a short-term loan option this month.

According to The Telegraph, Firmino and Benzema both fit the bill.

The former Real Madrid striker has reportedly been left out of Al-Ittihad’s mid-season training camp in Dubai after repeatedly failing to report for duty – with his camp insisting that he is stuck in Mauritius, where he was on holiday, due to a tropical storm.

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner signed a three-year deal worth £258million with the Saudi club in the summer, but despite scoring 15 goals in 24 games rumours over his future have swirled from the moment he landed in the Middle East.

‘We need to give some rest to the players and staff,’ he said.

‘It’s been a really busy period now, they need to breathe a little bit. This break is well deserved.

‘I think they need a few days off. They deserve it. Then after, to attack the second half of the season. They need to have some break.’