Chelsea made an attempt to sign Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi in the final week of the summer transfer window.
Taiwo Awoniyi was the source of a surprise late enquiry from Chelsea as they looked to sign the Nottingham Forest attacker.
That is according to The Athletic, who claim that Chelsea made an enquiry into signing Awoniyi in the final 48 hours of the transfer window.
The Blues did bring in Nicolas Jackson over the summer but, for all his impressive, qualities, he hasn’t looked clinical in front of goal.
Christopher Nkunku is out until later this year and Chelsea seemingly did look into another striker, fancying Forest man Awoniyi.
The move didn’t go any further but Forest did actually manage to sign a Chelsea player in Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Why did Chelsea want Taiwo Awoniyi?
Forest pounced to sign. Awoniyi from Union Berlin in 2022, paying a hefty £17.5million fee to lure him back to England.
Awoniyi showed plenty of promise last season but really hit a purple patch at the end of the season, smashing six goals in the final four games of the campaign – including a brace against Chelsea.
The 26-year-old has taken that form into this season, scoring in each of the first three games of the season.
Even when Awoniyi didn’t score against Chelsea at the weekend, he still laid on the assist for Anthony Elanga to score the winner.
Awoniyi is much more than just a powerful striker with a turn of pace; he has shown the ability to finish his chances and even set them up for others.
Emerging as a real all-round forward, Awoniyi’s excellent performances for Forest put him on Chelsea’s radar but Steve Cooper will be delighted to have kept hold of him.
Liverpool sold Awoniyi
A move to Chelsea would have seen Awoniyi sign for one of the Premier League big boys once again.
Awoniyi joined Liverpool way back in August 2015 having emerged as a real talent over in Nigeria.
Sadly for Awoniyi and Liverpool, he was never able to obtain a work permit to play in England and headed out on loan.
FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron (twice), Gent, Mainz and Union Berlin all took Awoniyi before the latter completed a permanent move.
Liverpool brought in £6.5million for Awoniyi in 2021 and took a slice of the fee when Forest completed their move a year later.
The Reds will have been well aware of Awoniyi’s potential and whilst it didn’t work for Chelsea this time, the Reds may well expect a big move at some point in the future.
