Why Chelsea's latest £34m transfer target would be yet another misguided signing

Sky Germany is reporting that Chelsea have submitted a concrete bid for Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier. The 21-year-old striker has shot into fame after scoring 16 goals in the Bundesliga last season. He’s also said to be of interested to both Aston Villa and Manchester United.

An attacking threat with incredible versatility, people with football acumen can see that he has everything it takes to be a hit and have a successful career. But is he really what Chelsea needs at the moment?

Last season, the Blues spent heavily on players like Christopher Nkunku and Nicholas Jackson, and this summer they have already brought in Marc Guiu, all three strikers with strong potential. You have to question, therefore, whether Chelsea need yet another striker who will need time to reach their best.

Nkunku initially dazzled last pre-season, before being robbed of playing time by falling victim to the substandard Soldier Field playing surface in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund - a mishap that saw him miss the majority of the 2023/24 campaign. This season will feel like a new one for him. If he gets close to the fitness levels he had at RB Leipzig, then Chelsea are in for an exhilarating ride.

Then there is the case of Nicholas Jackson, who scored 17 goals in his first season at the club, leading the line as the main striker. When he arrived from Villarreal, he didn't look like someone who could be Chelsea’s number 9, but he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. By the end of the season, he’d turned heads.

Given that Chelsea invested a lot of cash and time into making him a quality and trusted Premier League striker, it’s pivotal that they benefit from that. What that means is if they’re going to bring in a striker, it should be someone proven who can challenge Jackson to be a better version of himself and someone Jackson can learn from. Make no mistake, Chelsea are far from the ruthless, trophy harvesting behemoths they became under previous owner Roman Abramovich, and they need to make ground on the likes of Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool quickly to avoid becoming Premier League also-rans.

If they the Blues brought in Beier, they’d be tasked with another raw talent who needs time to get up to speed. That would take precious game time away from the likes of Jackson, who could well see his development hindered by another project player.

Chelsea have invested heavily in the striking department, and even though there is space for another finisher, it’s more for someone with experience and an upgrade of what they already have, rather than someone with raw potential who needs time to bed into the Premier League.

Then there is the case of Marc Guiu, who has looked promising in every minute he’s played for the club in pre-season. He left Barcelona to come to west London for a chance at first-team football and has shown signs that he can be trusted. He’s also young, versatile, and clearly talented. He’s another striker who could benefit from just being around the squad and learning from an experienced head.

When you spend over £1 billion on young players, you might want to now think of leadership and experience to stick everyone together and make sure everyone is given a fair chance at growth. Beier was the fourth-best striker in Germany last season, but Jackson outscored him, and Nkunku had better numbers when he played at Leipzig. Chelsea’s progress next season is reliant upon turning all those missed chances into goals, and only a proven, reliable striker can see this aim achieved.