Chelsea have been the biggest spenders in the world since Todd Boehly took over, and while much of those signings have gone to waste thus far, there is optimism that at least a couple of those major acquisitions - namely Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in midfield - can come good with the right schematic direction.
The big task for Chelsea in the summer 2024 transfer window is upgrading an attack that centers around Cole Palmer and, in theory, a healthy Christopher Nkunku.
Palmer pulled Chelsea up big-time last season as the most prominent breakout star in European football, scoring 22 goals and 11 assists as the biggest transfer "win" by the Blues in the Boehly era.
Chelsea are looking for a top No. 9 to pair with Palmer and supplant 2023 signing Nicolas Jackson as the every-game starter in the middle of the attacking trident.
According to a report from the Daily Mail's Craig Hope, Chelsea made an approach to Newcastle for star striker Alexander Isak, who has been one of the biggest talents in European football for years.
Isak has long struggled with consistency, but he seemed to put it all together in the second half of the campaign, finishing 2023/24 with 21 goals and 1.4 dribbles completed per game.
But as Hope reports, Chelsea would have to pay more than 115 million pounds and break the transfer record Caicedo already set in order to pry Isak away from Newcastle.
The Magpies value Isak highly and know that he and Anthony Gordon are two building blocks for their attack, with the new Premier League powers hoping to sign a top right winger to replace Miguel Almiron and form a trio for the next five years.
Chelsea have already made regrettable 100 million pound investments in the past, and if they are balking at the chance to sign Victor Osimhen for that kind of money, then why sign Isak at a similar price?
Isak is not a better player than Osimhen, neither in goal-scoring nor in consistency. And on that subject, Chelsea already paid for a young striker on the basis of a half-season of greatness juxtaposed with less consistent results - that player would be Nicolas Jackson.
Although Isak is superior to Jackson, at a cost of more than double the price, it's hard to say that the Swedish international would be a superior transfer for Chelsea.
With other striker options available like Jonathan David, Georges Mikautadze, and potentially even Osimhen at a reduced fee, Chelsea would be wise to consider Isak very carefully. In a sense, Newcastle are saying he is not available at all with that apparent asking price.
