Chelsea are now considering a move for a player who previously admitted to learning a lot from watching Romelu Lukaku.
Enzo Maresca wants a new striker at Stamford Bridge, and finding the right profile is likely to now dominate Chelsea’s summer.
Nicolas Jackson showed promise last season, but isn’t quite ready to shoulder a bid to return to Champions League football alone.
And whilst Christopher Nkunku will be a huge asset for the club when fit, he isn’t an out-and-out number nine.
Incidentally, Lukaku doesn’t seem to have a future with Chelsea, who is set to return from his loan at Roma.
Antonio Conte wants Lukaku at Napoli but Chelsea will only sell the striker this summer – they won’t accept another Serie A loan.
Of course, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has been outlined as Chelsea’s priority target, who is believed to be in talks with Arsenal.
And perhaps with that in mind, Chelsea have now established an alternative striker to pursue – Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
That’s according to Mail Sport, who consider that Calvert-Lewin could be a cost-effective alternative to Sesko.
Chelsea want Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a cut-price
According to the report mentioned, Everton have offered Calvert-Lewin a new contract this summer given the 27-year-old’s deal expires in 2025.
Everton want their starting striker to stay, but Chelsea and a few other Premier League sides are sensing an opportunity.
The Merseyside club previously demanded £60m for Calvert-Lewin when interest clubs came knocking, a figure that would surely be heavily reduced were he not to agree to a new contract.
Calvert-Lewin’s injury record will be a concern to interested clubs, but the striker enjoyed a strong season by his previous standards in that regard, making 38 appearances.
A move would still seem something of a gamble, but perhaps one that Chelsea would deem worthwhile at the right price.
Calvert-Lewin modelled his game on Lukaku at Everton
Incidentally, Calvert-Lewin did recently admit that he learned a lot from training alongside current Chelsea striker Lukaku whilst playing together at Everton in the past.
The pair differ stylistically today, with Calvert-Lewin more effective in his close control and passing.
But the striker admitted he learned a lot: “Yeah it was great. Big Rom was there in my first season and then he moved on.
“To see how he trained and the intensity of how he did the finishing drills at a young age for myself was great to learn from.”
It remains to be seen if circumstances will lead to Chelsea making a move for Calvert-Lewin, but it’s certainly one to keep an eye on.
That being said, TBR Football can exclusively share what Julian Alvarez has now been telling Man City amid rumours of a move to Chelsea.