Top target Victor Osimhen, wildcard Santiago Gimenez & the nine strikers goal-shy Chelsea could splash even more cash on in the January transfer window

The notion of spending a record fee in the January transfer window would normally seem farfetched, but Chelsea's unprecedented spend in the winter of 2023 dictates that we should expect the unexpected.

Osimhen is seemingly the man at the top of the Blues' shortlist whether they land him immediately or in the summer, and they are supposedly willing to break the bank again to do so.

Their case may well be helped by the deterioration of the Nigerian's relationship with Napoli amid a contract standoff, but they should heed caution; this is not the same prolific frontman who fired his side to the Scudetto in 2022-23, although injuries, off-field issues, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's drop-off in form and managerial mismatches have not helped.

If Chelsea want a proven Premier League goal-scorer cut from the same cloth as Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, then they should look no further. Toney has flourished since Brentford's promotion in 2021 and seemed destined for his best campaign to date after hitting the 20-goal mark last season.

However, he has, of course, sat out the past seven months having been handed a severe punishment for betting breaches back in May. The 27-year-old hasn't kicked a ball in competitive action since, and he wasn't even allowed to train with his club until September. He won't return until mid-January, and that's before he's up to match sharpness.

Despite his Premier League pedigree, it therefore represents a significant risk to spend northwards of £60m ($75m) on someone who has been out of action for so long, especially when Chelsea cannot afford another failed transfer.

Something of a wildcard option, Gimenez has been scoring at an astounding rate in the Eredivisie, including a pair of hat-tricks against Ajax and Excelsior. As we approach the midway point in the season, he has 20 goals in 19 games.

Unsurprisingly, that remarkable streak has caught the eye of magpies Chelsea, who are said to be considering the Mexican as an alternative if other options, such as Osimhen, prove too costly.

There is always risked attached to signing those who are shining outside of Europe's top-five leagues, with a host of players failing to translate their form in the Netherlands to the Premier League in the past. But, at a relatively cheap price of £35m ($44m) without add-ons, Gimenez might just represent a calculated mid-season gamble worth taking.

Brighton don't often make mistakes in the transfer window, but they may well regret selling Gyokeres to Coventry back in 2021.

After two prolific seasons in the Championship, the Swede has joined Sporting, where he has already rattled in 13 goals in 18 games in all competitions. Despite being a striker, he's handily provided seven assists, too.

Pochettino has admitted he wants to improve the overall height of his squad, and at 6'2 Gyokeres would fit the role. He is the most recent name to be linked with Chelsea, but an £87m ($109m) release clause will surely be a stumbling block so early in his time in Portugal.

Despite seemingly wanting to stay in Turin, Vlahovic found himself at the centre of Chelsea's desperate attempts to rid themselves of Romelu Lukaku in the summer in negotiations over an always-unlikely swap deal.

Juventus were self-admittedly willing to do business if their valuation was met in a bid to balance the books, but the exchange never materialised due to the Bianconeri's valuation being double what Chelsea were willing to pay.

Whether the Blues still hold an interest remains to be seen; Vlahovic hasn't exactly been prolific this season despite Juve's overall improvement, netting once in his last nine games, and it was reported in the summer that Pochettino was sceptical about his suitability.

Ollie Watkins' stock is at an all-time high and Aston Villa are absolutely flying, so to say this would be a difficult deal to pull off would be something of an understatement.

Nevertheless, Chelsea have shown their ruthlessness in negotiations in the recent past, and they may hope that the England international gambles on potential for long-term success at Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old has carried his fine form from last season into the current campaign with 21 goal involvements in 23 games, and brings Premier League pedigree. However, whether Chelsea would part with a considerable sum for a player who is arguably not an 'elite' striker is up for debate.

Chelsea are among a host of leading European clubs to have been touted as possible destinations for towering striker Sesko for some time.

The 20-year-old opted to stay within the Red Bull group in the summer, though, as he joined Leipzig from Salzburg. However, he has been unable to nail down a starting place, instead being forced to settle for brief cameos off the bench.

Unsurprisingly, Sesko hasn't exactly been prolific as a result, but there is potentially an opportunity for Chelsea to prise him away with the offer of regular minutes, and given his youth he could be a solution in the present and future.

Another of Europe's deadliest marksmen this season, Guirassy is leading Stuttgart's unlikely Champions League charge in the Bundesliga, sitting second only to a certain Harry Kane in the scoring charts.

The Guinean has long been a steady goal-scorer, but he seems to have taken his game to another level this term as he's plundered 18 strikes in just 14 appearances in all competitions.

Guirassy actually rejected a move to Chelsea back in 2020 when he was an Amiens player, but this time around he is likely to be lower down their list of priorities. The Blues have been stung by failed transfers from the Bundesliga in the past and - despite his cut price of €20m (£17m/$22m) - they will be wary that this could just be a hot streak for the striker, while there is also competition from Manchester United.

GOAL's very own wildcard, Wind has adapted to the rigours of the Bundesliga following an indifferent first full season with Wolfsburg.

Although he has slowed down somewhat recently in a team that is struggling overall, the Dane began the season with seven goals in six Bundesliga games and finds himself on 10 in 17 in all competitions heading towards the midway point in the season.

He is not necessarily an elite striker, but at 24 he fits within Chelsea's under-25 policy, and at 6'2 he would bring the height that Pochettino craves. As Nkunku nears his long-awaited return from injury, Wind could represent a ideal low-cost, low-risk alternative with Financial Fair Play in mind.