Chelsea considered signing Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha after Liam Delap’s hamstring injury according to reports.
Delap went off after 15 minutes of Chelsea’s win against Fulham, and is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks.
This set off a series of chaotic events with Chelsea trying to get Nicolas Jackson to return from Germany, where he was to finalise his move to Bayern Munich.
Chelsea considered signing Emanuel Emegha after Liam Delap injury
Marc Guiu was recalled from his loan spell at Sunderland to provide cover, whilst Chelsea also reportedly made enquiries for Conrad Harder, who ended up joining RB Leipzig.
Guiu only played 13 minutes in the opening three league games for the Black Cats, but as that late stage in the window it was an obvious solution for Chelsea.
The Spaniard only made three league appearances for the Blues last season, but missed the majority of the second half of the season through injury.
However, according to journalist Graeme Bailey Chelsea considered a late move for Strasbourg number nine Emegha.
“Chelsea brought Guiu back but I can confirm internally there was a conversation about Emegha coming in but it did not last long — they know he needs to be playing and they want him to spend another season under Liam Rosenior,” he said as cited on X.com.
Chelsea are expected to add Emegha to their squad next summer, and the Dutch under-21 international scored 14 Ligue 1 goals last season, whilst he’s scored three goals in four games in all competitions so far this season.
Delap absence puts more pressure on Joao Pedro
With Delap set for a spell on the sidelines there’s now more pressure on Joao Pedro to stay fit and deliver for the Blues.
Pedro has been in brilliant form since he arrived, but in the absence of Cole Palmer he’s thrived in the number ten position.
It will be interesting if Maresca continues with Pedro in the ten and trusts Guiu to lead the line, or moves Pedro into the striker role.
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