Chelsea’s potential plan involving Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha is risky

What is more of a mystery is who is going to be the Blues’ second-choice centre-forward behind the Brazilian.

As things stand, Chelsea will head into the new season with Pedro, Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha and Marc Guiu as No.9 options.

However, there is just over a month before the Premier League returns. You would expect there to be at least two departures before then.

Where would this Chelsea team finish? 👀

Chelsea selling Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap but keeping Emmanuel Emegha would be a gamble

Guiu leaving Chelsea either on loan or permanently always looked like an inevitability. The 20-year-old barely played last season, making just one start in the Premier League.

Alongside Guiu, everything was pointing towards one of Jackson or Delap also departing, while Emegha joining another club on loan had not been ruled out either.

According to Si Phillips Talks Chelsea, though, both Jackson and Delap could be sold, while Emegha remains in the first-team squad as Pedro’s deputy.

Emegha has never played in the Premier League before, and the Dutchman also had some injury issues last term.

Keeping him and getting rid of Jackson seems like quite a risk. Jackson has more experience than Emegha and is familiar with English football’s top division.

If anything happens to Pedro, it means Xabi Alonso would have to rely on a 23-year-old who has not played at this level.

The above does not mean Chelsea must keep Jackson and Delap at all costs. In fact, after his struggles at Stamford Bridge last season, it probably would be best for Delap to move on.

However, they need a reliable option to back up Pedro, and it is too early to say whether Emegha is capable of doing that.