Chelsea move for Marcus Thuram as their new number nine

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 4 Jan 2023 18:54 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea are in the market for a new No.9 and France's World Cup attacker Marcus Thuram has reportedly moved to the top of their winter shopping list.

The Blues have endured a difficult time with their strikers in recent seasons.

Romelu Lukaku returned amid much fanfare at the start of last season but was shipped off back to Inter Milan on loan after hitting just eight goals in 26 Premier League outings.

READ: Marcus Thuram: Man Utd target remains open to move

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has only struck once since his summer arrival from Barcelona, and although Kai Havertz has scored four times under Graham Potter, the suspicion remains that his best position is at attacking midfield.

"According to Si & Dan Talk Chelsea, the Blues are now making Thuram one of their targets in attack as they consider a number of options to improve their current squad members in that area of the pitch" write Caught Offside.

Thuram caught the eye with France at the World Cup this winter with two assists in five games, the second of those in the final against Argentina as the holders were edged on penalties by Lionel Messi and Co. after a 3-3 draw.

READ: The World Cup finalists most likely to transfer in January

Thuram in fine form

He earned his spot in Didier Deschamps' squad after hitting 13 goals with four assists from just 17 games for Borussia Monchengladbach this season.

Thuram is a powerfully built 6'3" attacker who is also able to line up on the flank - preferably the left one - and his versatility is another asset that could appeal to Graham Potter, who rarely uses the same formation all season.

Thuram is the son of France '98 World Cup-winning right-back Lilian, their nation's most capped player, and the elder brother of Nice midfielder Khephren.

He is currently rated at just €7.9m by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm, owing in part to the fact that he is out of contract at the end of the season, but Gladbach will hope to get more if they agree to a sale in January.