Chelsea's Struggling Forwards: £150m Spent, but Only Four Goals to Show

Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright combines data and opinion to shed light on key Premier League stories. This week's focus is on: Chelsea's underperforming attacking signings, Semenyo's instant impact at Manchester City, Brobbey's crucial contributions for Sunderland, and a player to watch this weekend. Chelsea fans may not miss Enzo Fernandez, who is absent due to his comments about Real Madrid, but his absence leaves them without their second-highest scorer of non-penalty goals this season. The team's misfiring attack is a concern for Liam Rosenior, especially with their record of failing to score in three consecutive games against top-level opposition. Joao Pedro has been a bright spot, with 14 Premier League goals since his £60m arrival from Brighton. However, the rest of the forwards signed last summer, including Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, and Estevao, have struggled, scoring only four Premier League goals between them despite a combined transfer fee of £150.5m. Estevao, at just 18, shows promise, but the others have underperformed, with finishing being a significant issue. The struggles of these young players raise questions about Chelsea's recruitment strategy, which prioritizes long-term potential over immediate impact. In contrast, Manchester City's signing of Antoine Semenyo, who has scored more goals in nine Premier League games than Chelsea's young forwards have in 78, demonstrates the value of recruiting for the present. Semenyo's goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool was his eighth in all competitions, helping to reinvigorate City's attack and reduce their reliance on Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, Sunderland's Brian Brobbey has been producing clutch performances, with all but one of his six Premier League goals proving crucial. His goals have been worth eight points to Sunderland this season, highlighting his importance to the team. Other key matches this weekend include Sunderland vs. Spurs, Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest vs. Aston Villa, all available to watch on Sky Sports.