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Why Haaland is key for Chelsea’s Premier League title bid

Erling Haaland, Chelsea
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The Borussia Dortmund striker has been linked with a summer transfer to Chelsea, and Cole has urged his former club to make it happen.

Erling Haaland is needed for Chelsea to launch a Premier League title challenge on a regular basis, says Joe Cole.

Thomas Tuchel has gone 12 games unbeaten as Blues manager following Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Leeds. Nine clean sheets have already come under the German, but the club continue to lack firepower in the final third.

“They need one player for me, Haaland. He’s on the wish-list.” Cole, who played at Stamford Bridge between 2003 and 2010, told BT Sport.

“He’s a No 9. There’s so much in this squad, there’s quality in all areas, such a strong squad.

“You just need that one sparkle of magic, that No 9, that focal point, and it will change this club getting back to the glory days of challenging for the title regularly.”

Chelsea’s top-scorer this season is Tammy Abraham. The Englishman, a product of the club’s youth system, has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances. He has been struggling with an ankle problem since last month, though.

Timo Werner, meanwhile, has scored only 10 goals in 38 outings since his arrival from RB Leipzig last summer, and Olivier Giroud will become 35 years old in September.

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