Explained: How Mauricio Pochettino will break Chelsea No.9 curse with one more transfer in busy window at Stamford Bridge

The Blues have been busy once again in the summer window, with more big-money deals being pushed through. Forwards Christopher Nkunku – who is now injured – and Nicolas Jackson have formed part of that recruitment drive, but neither has taken on a famous jersey at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino has revealed that he intends to hand the No.9 to his next attacking addition, with the Argentine coach convinced that he can end the talk of that shirt being cursed – with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao, Fernando Torres and Mateja Kezman all struggling in it.

New Chelsea boss Pochettino has said: “It’s true, [the curse] yes? Oh my goodness, we need to do some things to change the energy. I will ask the kit man to bring all the nine shirts and we will do something to break it. If we bring in one more striker now, I’m going to be sure that he uses the nine and try to change the feeling and the idea that this number is cursed.”

Chelsea already have one player on their books that has filled the No.9 spot before, but Pochettino admits that Romelu Lukaku’s future in west London remains unclear. He added on the burly Belgian, who spent last season on loan at Inter: “The situation with the player you are asking, is a situation that was already really clear before we arrived here. There was a wish between the club and the player to try to find a solution. At the moment we are relaxed and nothing happened. If something changes we will inform you. If the player and club’s wish is to find a solution, it's not me, it's them. In that case, the player and the club will meet and inform me that things have changed. I'm not going to move until the club or the player wants to talk with me. I am here, I accept the situation that was here when I arrived.”

Chelsea have only scored two goals through as many games in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign, with just one point taken from opening fixtures against Liverpool and West Ham.