Chelsea have been the home to countless talented centre-forwards over the years, helping the club achieve some unthinkable achievements – none more so than the Champions League triumph in 2012.
Didier Drogba was a player who played a crucial role in their European victory, scoring the equalising goal before slotting home the winning penalty in the shootout, securing their first Champions League trophy.
The Ivorian would score over 150 goals during two separate spells at Stamford Bridge, cementing himself in the club’s history forever, with José Mourinho playing a blinder in signing him back in 2004.
Diego Costa is another striker who captured the hearts of the fanbase, scoring a total of 59 goals in 120 appearances, leading the club to multiple Premier League titles.
In the present day, the responsibility falls to two players within Enzo Maresca’s current squad to provide the goods after nearly a decade without a league triumph.
Jackson & Nkunku’s stats for Chelsea in 2024/25
Nicolas Jackson has been the Blues’ first-choice striker throughout the first half of the season, starting 22 of the 24 league outings so far in 2024/25.
The Senegalese international has scored nine times to date, registering the second most league goals behind top scorer Cole Palmer – showcasing his ability in front of goal.
However, it’s safe to say the 23-year-old could’ve had a lorry load more goals, missing 15 big chances in the Premier League, the fourth most of any player in the division.
Christopher Nkunku is the other senior option at Maresca’s disposal, but has massively struggled for a starting role, only making three out of a possible 24 matches.
However, the Frenchman has been given consistent minutes in other competitions, scoring three times in the Carabao Cup alongside seven strikes in the Europa Conference League.
The pair have provided key goals in important moments for the club over the last couple of months, but they may have been better off keeping hold of one player who’s starred away from the Bridge after his summer move.
The former Chelsea player who’s outperformed Jackson & Nkunku
Striker Romelu Lukaku was a big-money investment for the Blues back in the summer of 2021, looking to catapult them towards a Premier League title after multiple years without success.
The Belgian moved to West London for a fee in the region of £97.5m, breaking the club’s record fee at the time, but failed to prove value for money, causing an uproar in his time during his second spell.
He registered 15 goals in his 44 appearances across all competitions during his return to the club, but it would be his only season of first-team action after a remarkable interview in which he expressed his desire to leave once again.
After separate loan spells at Inter Milan and Roma, Lukaku would depart on a permanent deal to join Antonio Conte’s Napoli for a fee in the region of £30m this summer, with the talisman wasting no time in impressing for his new outfit.
The Belgian, who’s previously been dubbed “world-class” by fellow professional Jordan Graham, has registered a combined 16 goal contributions – more than Jackson and one less than Nkunku, but he’s outperformed the current Chelsea pair in other various key areas.
He’s registered a high goal per 90 rate along with a better conversion rate based upon the efforts he’s registered on target, highlighting his clinical edge within the final third.
Lukaku has also won more fouls per 90, whilst also winning more of his aerial battles, showcasing his all-round number nine play – something which the Blues have desperately been missing in recent times.
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How Lukaku compares to Nkunku & Jackson in 2024/25 so far |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Statistics (per 90) |
Lukaku |
Nkunku |
Jackson |
|
Games played |
22 |
20 |
23 |
|
Goals & assists |
15 |
3 |
14 |
|
Goals per 90 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
|
Goals per shot-on-target |
0.5 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Fouls won |
1.3 |
1 |
1.2 |
|
Aerials won |
42% |
41% |
33% |
|
Stats via FBref |
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Whilst his time at Stamford Bridge was one to forget, there’s no denying that he possesses a serious goalscoring ability that has seen him be a hit at every club since leaving the Blues.
Given his goalscoring antics away from the club, it could have been a wise decision for Maresca to work with the talisman to try and provide that difference the Italian has been desiring since his appointment in the summer.
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