Transfer window closing: what about striker?

Just a few days left in the summer transfer window. It looks like Chelsea has locked up Victor Moses and now Cesar Azpilicueta (unless the announced deals hit a snag of some sort). So there’s only one problem remaining to address (other than finding someone to take Malouda off our hands). That problem, though, is a big one: striker.

We have the #1 slot covered (Torres), and RdM’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation means that you probably need three reliable players in the role, whereas you’d need four or five if you played two up top. So, for the sake of argument, let’s proceed on the assumption that the Blues must have three capable strikers when the window closes.

Scenario 1: Torres, Sturridge, Moses

The team may already think it’s set. Nando is your alpha guy and Sturridge is the #2 (he should be happy in this role, as he’d get plenty of playing time in his preferred position). He gets the start when there are multiple games in a week or against lesser lights in cup competition. Moses is primarily a winger, but apparently can play up top in a pinch, so he’s a talented, versatile utility guy.

Scenario 2: Torres, Sturridge, and a player to be purchased this week

As with Scenario 1, except RdM doesn’t believe Moses is his #3. In this case, look for Chelsea to move for a second-tier back-up type (they were in talks over Jovetic earlier in the summer, you’ll recall).

Scenario 3: In comes Cavani!

We know Chelsea wants Napoli’s Sparkly Vampire (who wouldn’t?) and it seems he’s available for a price. If the teams reach agreement, we now have an argument over who the alpha starter should be. In any case, you have a clearly defined top two, and given what we have seen in the past, it seems unlikely that Sturridge will be happy accumulating that much pine time, especially since playing time on the wing is going to be hard to come by, as well, after the summer’s rash of midfielder signings.

So if Edinson Cavani arrives it could well mean that Danny goes out, and it would make sense that he be heading back to Italy as a makeweight in the Cavani deal, right? Just speculating, but it seems an obvious enough possibility.

To complicate matters further, in this scenario we’re now back to two strikers instead of the three we need. Which means someone like Jovetic is again in the frame.

I’m obviously not privy to the private talks going on with the ownership and the management staff, so it’s imposible for me to predict with any reliability. I’m just looking at the situation before us and trying to make an educated guess.

I know which of the scenarios here I prefer, though. Give me El Niño and Sparkly Vampire to work with and I’ll take my chances….