---
title: "Total Duds: Gonzalo Higuain arguably made Chelsea’s striking woes even worse"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/total-duds-gonzalo-higuain-arguably-made-chelseas-striking-woes-even-worse/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2019-12-01T06:00:20Z"
modified: "2019-12-01T06:00:20Z"
---

# Total Duds: Gonzalo Higuain arguably made Chelsea’s striking woes even worse

**This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at a player who disappointed after being signed, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to illustrate how ill-judged the transfer decision has been.**

To be fair to Maurizio Sarri, at least he recognised that Chelsea had issues with their striking options. Having [sold Diego Costa](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41407378) in Antonio Conte’s final season, his replacement Alvaro Morata joined with [limited success](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/11607986/alvaro-morata-where-it-went-wrong-for-chelsea-striker-as-atletico-madrid-move-edges-closer), while Olivier Giroud was very much a [bit-part player](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/olivier-giroud/leistungsdaten/spieler/82442/plus/0?saison=2018) and arguably past his best.

If the Blues were to challenge for honours, they needed a proven goalscorer.

And in fairness once again, Sarri went and got one. The Italian had past success with Gonzalo Higuain at Napoli, with the Argentinian netting [36 Serie A goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gonzalo-higuain/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39153/plus/0/saison/2015/wettbewerb/IT1/verein/6195) in 2015/16, before helping power Juventus to [successive Scudetto triumphs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gonzalo-higuain/erfolge/spieler/39153).

So [grabbing the hitman on loan](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46941240) had looked a wise move on paper, though it hardly worked out for the ex-Real Madrid man.

Somehow, Chelsea still managed to achieve their aims by finishing in the [Premier League’s top four](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2018), securing the [Europa League title](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48368406) and ending up just a penalty shootout away from [EFL Cup](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47268861) glory.

Though it says a lot about Higuain’s time at Stamford Bridge that despite Chelsea’s [inability to spend money](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47329293) in the upcoming summer, they declined the opportunity to sign the striker on a permanent deal.

That decision looks to have been the correct one thanks to the success [Tammy Abraham](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tammy-abraham/leistungsdaten/spieler/331726) has enjoyed so far this year – though it was hardly a difficult one to make considering Higuain’s measly return of [five goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gonzalo-higuain/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39153/plus/0?saison=&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=), especially given that it would have cost [£31.3m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46941240) to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

Despite returning to Italy, it does appear that Higuain has lost his scoring touch, with just [four goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gonzalo-higuain/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39153/plus/0/saison/2019/wettbewerb/IT1/verein/506) so far in Serie A, having started eight of Juventus’ 13 games under Sarri this season.

In hindsight, it seems his Blues spell was doomed from the start – and Chelsea must surely be thanking their lucky stars that they were not left to rue paying a sizeable sum for the player while still being able to have a relatively successful season.

So while Chelsea’s striking woes look to be behind them, it seems difficult to deny that Higuain made them momentarily worse during his brief West London spell.

\[freshpress-poll id=”252605″\]

***Chelsea fans, what went wrong for Higuain at Stamford Bridge? Let us know your thoughts below!***