Paul Merson: 'Chelsea need a new striker'

Former Arsenal attacker Paul Merson has claimed that Chelsea need a new striker in January if they are to stand a chance of challenging for the Premier League title in the second half of the season.

Alvaro Morata scored his fourth and fifth Premier League goals of the season in Chelsea's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, but the Spaniard has flattered to deceive since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Merson doubts whether Morata is good enough to help the Blues win the title, and has urged those in charge at the capital club to sign a new forward in the winter transfer window.

"They need a forward though, come what January. You know what summed it up for me more than anything last Saturday that they need a centre-forward? He's (Morata) going through one-on-one with the keeper to get his hat-trick," Merson told Sky Sports News.

"[Alan] Shearer, [Michael] Owen, [Robbie] Fowler, [Ian] Wright, [Harry] Kane - they roll the ball down the side [and score]. [Morata] was very good, he was very good. But it was a prime example, you've got to be a goalscorer.

"He's going through and just tries to dink the keeper. If this was Shearer going through, he would have just smashed it. He's not doing too shabbily but Chelsea to win the Premier League will need a centre-forward to get 20-25 goals this season.

"Jorginho's not going to get you goals, [N'Golo] Kante is probably going to get you three if that for the rest of the season, Pedro might get three or four. So you need someone who's going to get 20 goals at least in a season."

Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League table, two points off leaders Manchester City.