Chelsea's £150m Forwards Struggle to Find the Net

Get the latest insight from The Radar, a Sky Sports column that combines data and opinion to shed light on key stories from the Premier League. This week's topics include: Chelsea's underperforming attacking signings, Antoine Semenyo's impressive start at Manchester City, Brian Brobbey's clutch performances for Sunderland, and a player to watch this weekend. Chelsea fans may not be too concerned about Enzo Fernandez's absence on Sunday, but his lack of availability does mean they will be without their second-highest scorer of non-penalty goals this season. The team's misfiring attack is a problem for Liam Rosenior, with Joao Pedro being the exception, having scored 14 Premier League goals since his £60m arrival from Brighton. However, the rest of the forwards signed last summer have struggled, with Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, and Estevao costing a combined £150.5m in transfer fees but scoring only four Premier League goals between them. Estevao, at just 18, has shown promise, but the others have underperformed, with finishing being a major issue. Delap has scored nearly three goals fewer than expected, while Garnacho has also struggled to hold down a place. Their difficulties raise questions about Chelsea's recruitment strategy, which has prioritized youthful signings over experienced players. In contrast, Manchester City's signing of Antoine Semenyo has paid off, with the 26-year-old scoring more goals in nine Premier League games than Chelsea's young forwards have in 78. Semenyo's arrival has reinvigorated City's attack and reduced their reliance on Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, Sunderland host Spurs on Sunday, with Brian Brobbey looking to continue his impressive form, having scored crucial goals in the Tyne-Wear derby and against Arsenal, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace. His goals have been worth eight points to Sunderland this season, making him a vital player for the team.