Graham Potter Still Hasn’t Found The Perfect Centre Forward For Chelsea

It took a return to the Amex Stadium for Graham Potter to be confronted with many of the problems he has still to solve as Chelsea manager. The 47-year-old saw his new team comprehensively dismantled by Brighton in a 4-1 defeat on Saturday, bringing to an end an enjoyable honeymoon period for Potter at Stamford Bridge.

Until then, Chelsea had been unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions under Potter following his arrival from Brighton in September. This heavy loss exposed some of the deep issues still be addressed by the new Blues boss. Chelsea are very much still a work-in-progress as they move into a new era under potter.

Chelsea looked uncomfortable on the ball and were forced into countless mistakes by a relentless Brighton press that was sharp from start to finish. At the other end of the pitch, though, the visitors to the south coast offered very little until Kai Havertz grabbed a consolation goal at 3-1. Chelsea were toothless.

Thomas Tuchel also failed to get to grips with Chelsea’s attacking options during his final 12 months in charge, signing Romelu Lukaku for a club-record transfer fee before sending the Belgian striker back to Inter after just one season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was signed as a short-term solution, but Potter started the 33-year-old on the bench against Brighton.

Havertz has shown signs of growth as a number nine, but the German international still lacks the natural finishing instinct of a player who has played that position for a number of years. That might be Havertz’s preferred role at some point in the future, but Chelsea need someone who can also deliver in the immediate term.

This has led to speculation over a potential move for Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman has earned himself a reputation as one of the best young attackers in Europe over the last two seasons for RB Leipzig and Chelsea are believed to be leading the chase for his signature ahead of the January transfer window.

Nkunku is the perfect modern striker. He is technically excellent with the ball at his feet, he can drop deep, he can spin in behind to run the channels, he can create and most importantly he can finish having scored nine goals in just 12 Bundesliga appearances his season. It’s understandable that several big European clubs are reportedly tracking him.

Potter is a modern coach in need of a modern striker to lead the line for his new team. The signing of Nkunku wouldn’t just give Chelsea additional firepower in the final third of the pitch, it could potentially give balance and purpose to the rest of the team. Saturday’s defeat to Brighton demonstrated the progress Potter has still to make and he might wish to start at the top of the pitch.