Chelsea Unveils Shocking Long-Term Striker Strategy Following Stunning Marc Guiu Move
Chelsea's choice to bring back forward Marc Guiu, instead of acquiring a new striker to cover for the injured Liam Delap, was influenced by the club's future ambitions regarding Strasbourg talent Emmanuel Emegha, according to recent reports.
Delap sustained a muscle problem just before the international window, initially leading Chelsea to halt Nicolas Jackson's transfer to Bayern Munich. The German club eventually enhanced their proposal to complete the transaction, while Chelsea chose to retrieve Guiu from his Sunderland loan spell that had only been finalized weeks prior.
The choice to avoid returning to the transfer window, despite showing interest in Conrad Harder from Sporting CP before his switch to RB Leipzig, has sparked debate among supporters but seems to have been driven by considerations beyond mere finances.
Per BBC Sport, Chelsea were reluctant to introduce another striker to a rotation that may soon feature Emegha, the 22-year-old Dutch player who has impressed during his two-season stint with the Blues' affiliated French club.
Strasbourg invested €13 million (£11.3 million, $15.2 million) to acquire Emegha from Sturm Graz in 2023 and have witnessed him accumulate 26 goals across 64 matches. He was appointed as Liam Rosenior's captain this summer after Habib Diarra's exit and the return of loanee Andrey Santos to Chelsea.
Chelsea view Emegha as a talent with the potential to represent the club down the line and reportedly maintained their current striker setup to preserve a clear route for Emegha should the Blues opt to pursue his services.
Fabrizio Romano disclosed earlier this summer that discussions regarding Emegha's potential Chelsea move were already underway. Reports suggest there might even be a preliminary agreement securing the young forward a transfer to Stamford Bridge by summer 2026.
For now, Chelsea will continue with Guiu and João Pedro as their only recognized central forwards in Enzo Maresca's roster. A definitive assessment of Delap's injury remains pending, though indications suggest he may be sidelined longer than the eight-week timeframe initially estimated by the Chelsea manager.