Man Utd target is the answer to Chelsea's biggest problem

Cameron Smith

• 14 Jan 2024 14:46 GMT
• 4 min read

Chelsea’s need for a new striker is evident and Mauricio Pochettino has even stated that it’s an area to look at amid Christopher Nkunku’s latest injury setback.

The Blues have won six of their past eight games, and four consecutive home Premier League matches, but Pochettino remains under pressure at Stamford Bridge.

The 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday was a necessary response following the midweek defeat against Middlesbrough, but Chelsea weren’t all that convincing versus Marco Silva’s side.

They may have mustered more shots and enjoyed more possession than their west London rivals, but Chelsea (three) managed less shots on target than Fulham (four) and relied on a Cole Palmer penalty to seal all three points.

Nicolas Jackson has been much maligned since he arrived last summer, but the Senegal international has scored seven league goals this term and has fared far better than Armando Broja, who has started in recent weeks due to Jackson’s participation at the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, it’s clear that signing a world-class number nine is high on Chelsea’s priority list for 2024.

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has been touted to be that man, although the Serie A side are unlikely to sell their star man during the January window.

As a result, Chelsea may be best advised to wait until the summer instead of rushing into buying a different striker for big money this month.

Therefore, Manchester United target and Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema could be the perfect short-term solution.

Why Chelsea should sign Karim Benzema on loan

Benzema left the Santiago Bernabeu last summer after an illustrious stint with Los Blancos as he became one of several high profile players to join the Saudi Pro League.

However, the Frenchman has endured several meaningful issues since moving to Al-Ittihad and he has been omitted from their mid-season training camp in Dubai.

Benzema reportedly missed training three times last year and Marcelo Gallardo (Al-Ittihad’s manager) has decided that he will not travel with the team to Dubai due to failing to report back after the winter break on time.

The Lyon academy graduate has scored nine times in 15 games for Al-Ittihad, but he could leave the club during the January transfer window.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Man Utd are looking into the possibility of signing Benzema on loan in a bid to provide Erik ten Hag with another option up front.

Rasmus Hojlund has been underwhelming since his summer move from Atalanta and could benefit from the support of a player with Benzema’s calibre.

However, Chelsea should look to hijack any plans that Man Utd have.

Benzema may not be a long-term answer to Chelsea’s striker issue, but the France star is the perfect solution until the end of the season.

Osimhen will likely not be available for another six months and the Blues can’t really afford to wait if they harbour any aspirations of sealing European football this season.

As a result, rather than signing off on a panic buy in January, Chelsea should look to bring in Benzema on loan until the summer before seriously pursuing a move for Osimhen.

The Al-Ittihad man may not be the same striker that won the 2022 Ballon d’Or, but he hasn’t lost much of his ability and would be an instant upgrade on Chelsea’s current options.

Furthermore, Benzema would add some much needed experience to a team that is seriously lacking in that department.

Signing Benzema on a six-month loan deal therefore makes perfect sense and could help Pochettino guide Chelsea back up the Premier League table.