I know who Chelsea should sign this summer - he would guarantee Enzo Maresca goals

should prioritise signing a new centre forward this summer and is the option the club need to target, according to former left-back Frank Sinclair.

's squad made a blistering start to the 2024/25 season, winning 10 and drawing four of their opening 16 matches - and it looked like the Blues were going to battle Liverpool for the title. Although their form has dipped - winning just five of their next 15 - Chelsea remain in a strong position.

They sit fourth in the Premier League table, and are on course to qualify for next year's Champions League. Despite this, Maresca has faced criticism from some of the Chelsea fans for his style of football and the lack of goal-scoring power, having netted just twice in their last four league matches.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

And if Chelsea are going to improve and build on Maresca's first campaign, ex-Blues defender Frank Sinclair admits that strengthening the club's forward line is a must.

The 53-year-old, who started his career at Stamford Bridge and made 218 senior appearances before leaving to join Leicester City in 1998, has urged the Blues to sign a No.9 this summer.

Speaking with football.london, Sinclair said: "Recruitment is key. The club will probably need a centre forward to help Nicolas Jackson in that area of the pitch. I think Chelsea struggled to replace him when he was injured.

"I think they need more experience in the backbone of the team. Right down the middle of their team, I think that it's very young and need a little bit more experience.

"I don't think Chelsea have had the affordability to make many changes during games this season, to change their style of play to suit the opposition they're playing against, so a bit of variation would help Enzo going forward as well. But, generally, if you bring in better players your standards go up and hopefully the club can start challenging for a top-two spot."

Asked about the type of forward Chelsea need to look at, Sinclair named Harry Kane as the "ideal" target, but labelled after impressing in the Premier League this season.

Pressed on the club's striker search, Sinclair added: "It's a very difficult question to answer because there's not a great deal on offer when you think about the level of striker that Chelsea can get.

"Do they go for someone that is experienced, that knows the league? The ideal person you'd get in at Chelsea is Harry Kane and sign him for the £40million get-out clause or whatever it is. I think that would be extraordinary if that happened.

"I quite like the look of a target-man like [Liam] Delap, as I think he would be a brilliant signing for Chelsea. You're signing a little bit of potential but I think he has 12 goals this season in a team that has struggled, so if you put him in a Chelsea team I think Delap would get 20-plus goals for you guaranteed.

"It'll be interesting to see how Enzo looks at it.

"Does he want someone who can come in and hit the ground running and be an experienced centre forward that he will have to get from abroad - or does he go for a young, English talent that has proven that he can score goals at the level? I like the Delap one."

Delap joined Ipswich for £15m from Manchester City last summer. He has impressed during his debut season in the Premier League, scoring 12 times and adding two assists in 30 matches.

His form has seen speculation increase, with Chelsea and Manchester United among the front-runners for his signature. It has been reported that Delap has a release clause that will drop to £30m in the event that Ipswich, who are 12 points from safety, are relegated straight back to the EFL Championship.

Compared to Viktor Gyokeres' asking price and Benjamin Sesko's valuation - among others - £30m for Delap is now looking like a bargain waiting to happen and that could give Chelsea the impetus to press ahead to sign the former Hull City loanee. Sinclair certainly feels that the Blues should make that transfer.

Sinclair was speaking after the return of the Dude Perfect International Youth Cup, featuring some of the world's elite football academies including Chelsea FC, Borussia Dortmund, Burnley FC and FC Dallas.

to the Dude Perfect International Youth Cup taking place in Burnley from May 30.