Forget Osimhen! Signing Firmino or Benzema is a no-brainer for Chelsea

Tom Weber

• Updated: 16 Jan 2024 14:17 GMT
• 3 min read

Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas believes that the Blues should bring in Roberto Firmino or Karim Benzema.

Chelsea's need for attacking reinforcements has given rise to some increasingly strange transfer rumours. Summer signing Nicolas Jackson and young Armando Broja have flattered to deceive and Christopher Nkunku has been unable to stay fit, raising questions about the Blues' attacking options.

In light of this, and with Jackson currently at the Africa Cup of Nations, the London giants have been linked with shock moves for Roberto Firmino and Karim Benzema, both of whom reportedly want to leave Saudi Arabia after just six months.

They would, of course, only be short-term, emergency solutions. The Blues' main centre-forward target remains Victor Osimhen, but a January move appears nigh on impossible. Transfer links to Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, meanwhile, have already been shot down.

In fact, even the links to Benzema have now been dismissed, with his club, Al-Ittihad, keen to retain him, but William Gallas nevertheless believes that a move would make sense for all involved.

Chelsea should sign Firmino or Benzema

"Right now, are you going to find the right striker for Chelsea? How many millions are they going to spend, it will be ridiculous," Gallas told Gambling Zone. "I know Osimhen from Napoli has been linked, but how much would he cost? It would be too much."

"Firmino and Benzema have been linked from Saudi. Those two could certainly be a good option because Benzema and Firmino wouldn’t cost that much money. Jackson and Broja will have to accept it, too, as that means they didn’t do their job properly."

"For Jackson, it’s a bit different though as just arrived at the new club and he needs time to adapt to the new club, at least a year. So for Jackson, it’s completely different. If you can bring either Firmino or Benzema that’d be great and their luck in front of goal could change."