Chelsea have made some questionable signings in recent times. And it looks like it might be time that we add another name to that worryingly long list. He has not even arrived at Stamford Bridge yet. But there is already a ton of uncertainty around his future with the club.
Chelsea’s forward line did not look strong enough last season. Yet, somehow, it could become far too crowded this summer.
Joao Pedro had a very good debut season but needs to work on his consistency and impact in big games. On the other hand, Liam Delap scored just one Premier League goal. Marc Guiu was barely a feature as well. Nicolas Jackson will be returning from a loan spell at Bayern Munich.
Now, according to The Athletic, Emmanuel Emegha’s role at Chelsea is uncertain. A big factor in his recruitment was the situation surrounding Jackson, who was not expected to play for the club again after joining Bayern Munich on a season-long loan.
Jackson Chelsea U-turn makes things difficult for Emegha
Jackson’s situation has undergone a change since then. Bayern Munich did not end up taking up the option to sign him permanently.
On the other hand, there also seems to be a recognition that he could be a good addition to this squad. He certainly is better than whatever Delap and Guiu produced last season.
So, there is a genuine possibility that Chelsea could reintegrate Jackson into the squad last season. But where does that leave the other strikers?
Will Delap leave? It has been suggested that he is keen to prove himself and wants another season at Chelsea. Guiu should go out, whether on loan or permanently. And even then, Emegha’s spot in the roster would not be clear.
What is Emegha’s role in this team?
Chelsea do not have any European football next season. So, there is not a lot of playing time to go around. Especially not if they end up with four or five strikers.
Even if Delap and Guiu leave, that would make Emegha the third-choice option. At least unless he is able to prove that he is better than Jackson and Pedro.
To be honest, he might not be at that level yet. From what I have seen of Emegha’s game. He looks like a raw talent.
There are a lot of rough edges that need polishing. His goalscoring record is decent in Ligue 1 but he might get found out in the Premier League quite quickly.
