Chelsea's Underperforming Forwards: £150m Investment Yields Only Four Goals

Get the inside scoop with The Radar, a Sky Sports column that combines data analysis and expert opinion to shed light on the most pressing stories in the Premier League. This week's focus is on: Chelsea's struggling attacking signings, Semenyo's impressive impact at Manchester City, Brobbey's clutch performances for Sunderland, and a player to watch this weekend. Chelsea fans might not miss Enzo Fernandez in their upcoming match against Manchester City, given his recent comments about Real Madrid, which led to a two-game suspension. However, his absence means they will be without their second-highest scorer of non-penalty goals this season. The team's misfiring attack is a significant concern for Liam Rosenior, especially considering they have failed to score in three consecutive games against top-tier opposition. Although Joao Pedro has been a bright spot with 14 Premier League goals, the rest of the forwards signed last summer have struggled. Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, and Estevao have scored a mere four Premier League goals between them, despite their combined transfer fees of £150.5m. Estevao, at just 18, shows promise, but the team's attacking overhaul has not yielded the expected results in the short term. Finishing has been a significant issue, with all four players underperforming their expected goals to varying degrees. Delap is the biggest culprit, having scored nearly three goals fewer than he should have based on the quality of his chances. The struggles of these young players raise uncomfortable questions for Chelsea's hierarchy, whose recruitment strategy has left them short on reliable goalscorers. In contrast, Manchester City's signing of Antoine Semenyo has proven to be a masterstroke, as he has scored more goals in nine Premier League games than Gittens, Delap, Garnacho, and Estevao have managed in 78 games for Chelsea. Semenyo's goal in their FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool was his eighth in all competitions, and his contribution has helped reinvigorate their attack in the second half of the campaign. His visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday may prompt Chelsea to reevaluate their approach to the transfer market. Elsewhere, Sunderland hosts Spurs on Sunday, and Brian Brobbey's clutch performances have been a highlight of their season. The striker's six Premier League goals have been crucial, with all but one proving decisive. His goals have been worth a total of eight points to Sunderland this season, making him a vital player for the team.