Talks ongoing: Chelsea in contact to sign “complete” new striker before deadline; Boehly excited.

A January transfer for Karim Benzema has been strongly linked to Chelsea, and a new report indicates that the Blues are currently in negotiations.

Friday night in the FA Cup, Mauricio Pochettino’s side once more demonstrated their inability to find a goal as they drew 0-0 with Aston Villa. This setback further exacerbated Chelsea’s hunt for a new striker.Armando Broja’s departure from Stamford Bridge would force Chelsea to consider alternative short-term solutions in the final third, such as Nicolas Jackson, for the remainder of the season. Four forwards—Vangelis Pavlidis of AZ Alkmaar, Mateo Cassierra of Zenit St. Petersburg, Kevin Denkey of Cercle Brugge, and Paulinho of Atletico Mineiro—have been presented to Chelsea this month; Benzema has also been mentioned as a potential acquisition.The Blues and Todd Boehly have been strongly linked with a move for a new striker this month, with marquee names including Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen, among others. However, no incoming transactions have been finalized as of yet. It is believed that Chelsea are in dominant position to acquire Osimhen in the summer, while an early-month high-priced offer for Gyokeres was rejected.It appears that the information that Chelsea was planning to communicate with Benzema that surfaced earlier this week has come to pass.

Regarding Karim Benzema, Chelsea

TEAMtalk reports that negotiations are ongoing between Chelsea and Benzema, and “a number of sources have indicated that the opportunity to acquire a player like the 36-year-old truly excites the owners,” and thus Boehly.Benzema’s club is “in constant communication with Chelsea” and “all avenues have been explored,” according to the report, despite the fact that “his wages are problematic.”

Karim Benzema Al Ittihad Club Saudi Pro League World CupKarim Benzema Al Ittihad Club Saudi Pro League World Cup

Benzema joined Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia only during the summer, subsequent to his departure from Real Madrid. As anticipated, the 36-year-old has maintained his prowess in the penalty area; therefore, he could be the ideal choice for the Blues as they attempt to subsequently surge up the Premier League standings and win both domestic cup championships.In the final days of the transfer window, a high-profile transaction appears likely to be one to monitor, although any action may be contingent on Broja’s future.