5 Chelsea players and transfer targets who could be their new Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea is the stuff of legend.

The Ivorian striker was the beating coronary heart of the Blues’ golden period, a colossus who mixed energy, ability and an unparalleled skill to rise to the event when it mattered most, most notably within the 2012 Champions League remaining, the place his unforgettable efficiency helped the Blues elevate the trophy for the primary time.

A decade after his departure, Chelsea are nonetheless craving for a successor able to replicating his impression on and off the pitch.

The membership has seen a revolving door of strikers within the post-Drogba period, and whereas some equivalent to Diego Costa loved strong careers at Stamford Bridge, nobody has been capable of absolutely step into the legendary striker’s sneakers.

From younger prodigies already making their mark in west London to established European stars, we have a look at 5 gamers we predict have the potential to take up Drogba’s mantle at Stamford Bridge.

1

Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal in the summertime of 2023, has a lot in frequent with Drogba. His bodily presence and work price mirror that of Drogba’s, whereas his skill to hyperlink up the play is maybe even higher than the Ivorian’s. He additionally has nice tempo and intelligent motion.

Nevertheless, the place he comes up brief when in comparison with Drogba is his ending. Although he is far improved this time period beneath Enzo Maresca, he nonetheless wastes too many large probabilities, typically needing two or three clear alternatives to get his identify on the scoresheet.

Since transferring to Chelsea, Jackson has scored 23 Premier League targets, but in addition missed a whopping 39 large probabilities in his brief Blues profession to date – precisely triple the quantity Drogba missed since this was recorded by the Premier League.

That being mentioned, Jackson continues to be simply 23 years outdated, and minus his hit-and-miss ending, his spectacular performances at his peak recommend he is able to main the road at Stamford Bridge for years to come back. Nevertheless, consistency and improved shows in entrance of objective will decide if he reaches Drogba’s heights.

2

Shim Mheuka

Chelsea

Shim Mheuka has quickly ascended by means of Chelsea’s academy ranks since becoming a member of the membership from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

Through the 2023/24 season, he recurrently featured for the Beneath-18s regardless of nonetheless being a schoolboy, netting a formidable 12 targets in 20 appearances throughout all competitions, together with a memorable outing at Stamford Bridge within the Beneath-18 Premier League nationwide remaining towards Manchester United.

Mheuka additionally performed a pivotal function for England within the European Beneath-17 Championship final summer season, scoring of their opening match towards Spain. Extra not too long ago, he marked his first call-up to the Beneath-19s in type, scoring towards France and the Netherlands.

Now 17, Mheuka’s highly effective body, clever motion, and excellent ending talents – all qualities Drogba showcased – have already caught the eye of Maresca, with the Italian handing him his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Astana within the Convention League again in December.

There is no such thing as a doubting that he has a vivid future in west London, and given Drogba was 26 when he signed for Chelsea, there’s loads of time for Mheuka to show he has what it takes to develop right into a Drogba-esque expertise.

3

Liam Delap

Ipswich City

Liam Delap has been one of many Premier League’s greatest strikers this season. Large, robust and with a deadly eye for objective, the ahead has scored 10 targets within the prime flight for newly promoted Ipswich City and has confirmed to be an actual handful for a number of the prime flight’s greatest defenders.

Already linked with a transfer to Chelsea, Maresca, who coached him as a teen throughout his time in Manchester Metropolis’s youth ranks, is an enormous admirer.

“Liam is a incredible participant, and in addition for his age,” mentioned Maresca again in December earlier than Chelsea have been overwhelmed 2-0 by Ipswich, a sport during which Delap scored the opening objective. “I feel we spent one yr collectively, and he scored 22 to 24 targets. He’s an excellent striker.

“England have many good gamers, many good strikers,” he added. “He is working exhausting off the ball and on the ball, understands the sport and may rating targets. I feel he may be an essential participant for England.” For Chelsea too, possibly?

4

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray/Napoli

Victor Osimhen is maybe the closest present participant to Drogba when it comes to type and impression.

The Nigerian ahead’s scoring file at Napoli is definitely paying homage to Drogba, to not point out persevering with his streak in entrance of objective in a Galatasaray shirt, which is one thing the Ivorian did himself in between his Chelsea spells.

Osimhen got here near becoming a member of Chelsea in the summertime, however the deal fell by means of previous to his mortgage swap to Istanbul.

While there, he has once more proven why he is one of many deadliest strikers in world soccer, scoring 20 targets in 27 video games, together with two towards Tottenham within the Europa League, which might already make him one thing of a Chelsea hero to some.

5

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one among Europe’s most enjoyable younger strikers and has typically been in comparison with Erling Haaland on account of his bodily attributes and taking part in type. Reasonably crucially, he has additionally been talked about in the identical breath as Chelsea star Drogba.

The Slovenian ahead stands at 6 foot 4, making him an actual handful for defenders when the ball is crossed into the field. Not solely is he large, however he is additionally a terrific header of the ball. Since transferring to Leipzig in 2023, the 21-year-old has scored seven headed targets.

Drogba, in the meantime, discovered the web along with his noggin 17 instances for Chelsea within the Premier League.

Like Drogba, Sesko has the power to attain from lengthy vary, greatest showcased by his beautiful strike towards Werder Bremen in January, the place he unleashed a strong drive that almost shattered the web from 25 yards out.

Reportedly already on Chelsea’s radar, a transfer to Stamford Bridge may give him the prospect to grow to be Chelsea’s subsequent dominant striker, doubtlessly following in Drogba’s footsteps.