Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that the Blues will make a move for a new forward during the January transfer window.
Despite the club's immense spending, Nicolas Jackson is currently the only senior centre-forward available for selection, with both Armando Broja and Christopher Nkunku on the sidelines through injury.
Chelsea continue to heavily linked with a mid-season move for Brentford's Ivan Toney, and Pochettino has hinted at a winter addition in the final third of the field.
The Blues head coach also said that he wants to be "more involved now in all the decisions" after commenting on his strong relationship with "the sporting directors and owners".
"The good thing is the relationship and communication is very good with the sporting directors and owners," Pochettino told reporters during his press conference.
© Reuters
"When the transfer window was closed I said I need to be more involved now in all the decisions. I have started to work to identify what we need for January.
"I think football is very dynamic and it is about the present always, things can change until January. Now, we need to work to recover Nkunku and Armando Broja to try to provide the team with more goals and become solid.
"Also, parallel to identifying or finding profiles to improve the team, the way we want to assess the team during the competition. But, of course, we have already started to work."
Chelsea will be unable to call upon Jackson, who has scored just one Premier League goal this season, against Fulham on Monday due to suspension, with the forward booked in the home loss to Aston Villa.
© Reuters
Pochettino has said that he has "a few options" when it comes to a replacement in the final third of the field.
"We have a few options, to play with a striker or without a striker. Also we need to assess all the squad after the game, things appear after 48 hours. We need to see how they are and how they recover from the effort of Wednesday. But different options can meet," he added.
"The most important thing is to adapt to the squad and players that are available, and to try to find a way to perform. That is the most important thing. Maybe there are different characteristics we can use.
"We can play with one striker or maybe we can play without a striker, with another second-line player or an offensive midfielder. But there are still a few days and I need to think and assess all the squad to take the best decision."
Chelsea are currently down in 14th spot in the Premier League table, picking up just five points from their opening six games, but they will enter the clash with Fulham off the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup.
