Unlike so many in football, Maurizio Sarri is someone who famously said the transfer market "bores" him, but the tougher reality right now is that Chelsea may have to go there to stave off a certain boredom to their football.

It is undeniable that the team are nowhere near as attuned to the Italian's highly distinctive football by now as he would like, and it sometimes feels as if it is just as a procession of slow passing before Eden Hazard does something. That is a far cry from what Sarri's Napoli were capable of.

For a few figures around the club, one solution to this is a striker that actually scores, and a swap of the struggling for Alvaro Morata for former Sarri striker Gonzalo Higuain has already been mooted. Such a player would certainly just bail Chelsea out of more games when their attacking isn't up to speed.

For his part, though, Sarri himself does not want to go down such a route. He said after the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace that he has no plans in that position, and will continue to use Eden Hazard there. He has other targets: a winger.

"We have Morata and Hazard can play very well in this position as we have seen in the last two, three matches, so I think that in the moment I don’t need another striker. Maybe another winger, because now we are in trouble with the injuries of Pedro, of [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek, so I have the option and what an option for the striker, but at the moment I have no option for the wingers."

Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Show all 30 1 /30 Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Juan Mata – Manchester United The former Chelsea player will be a good addition to most teams REUTERS Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Gianluigi Buffon – PSG At 40, the veteran goalkeeper can still do a job at a top club Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Filipe Luis – Atletico Madrid The 32-year-old would make a good addition to most side Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid The experienced defender would be a great quick-fix Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Dani Alves – PSG Is there one final move for one of the most successful players of a generation? AFP/Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Antonio Valencia – Manchester United The experienced defender is unlikely to remain first choice at United Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich The experienced winger could be set to leave Bayern in the summer Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Nacho Monreal – Arsenal The versatile defender has been getting better each season at Arsenal Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Daniel Strurridge – Liverpool The injury-prone forward might be worth a gamble from a Premier League side Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Gary Cahill – Chelsea The English defender is seeking more matches as he reaches the latter part of his career AP Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Juanfran – Atletico Madrid The seasoned defender still competes against the best in the game Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham When he’s not in Sky studios he can be found occasionally holding his own in the Premier League REUTERS Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich Does the Dutch winger have one final move in him? Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Santi Cazorla – Villarreal The popular midfielder is making his return following a horrific injury Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Andrea Barzagli – Juventus There are few trophies the experienced defender has not won Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Adrien Rabiot – PSG The young midfielder has caught the attention of many clubs in Europe Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Fernando Torres – Sagan Tosu The Spaniard’s time in Japan comes to an end in December 2019 Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Ander Herrera – Manchester United Is there room in the United midfield to keep Herrera? PA Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Andreas Pereira – Manchester United Jose Mourinho was very complimentary towards him in pre-season Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Leighton Baines – Everton Baines is beginning to be replaced in the Everton side Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Michel Vorm – Tottenham The Spurs reserve goalkeeper will bring experience to any side Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Danny Welbeck – Arsenal The England forward suffered a nasty injury that could keep him out for a while Arsenal FC via Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Mohamed Diame – Newcastle Consistent form has been hard to come by for the powerful midfielder Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Wes Morgan – Leicester He captained his side to Premier League glory, which has to be worth something Getty Images Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Jakub Blaszczykowski – Wolfsburg Once a star at Borussia Dortmund, the Polish winger’s career has slightly declined Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Fernando Llorente – Tottenham Athletic Club could offer him an early exit from Tottenham Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Stephan Lichtsteiner – Arsenal The Gunners will have to decide whether they have seen enough to keep him PA Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 Yacine Brahimi – Porto Newcastle, West Ham and Everton are said to be interested in the tricky winger Getty Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 James Milner – Liverpool The fine-wine of a midfielder will be a popular player for plenty of top-flight sides Action Images via Reuters Best free agents your team could sign for nothing in 2019 David Ospina – Napoli The Colombia and former Arsenal goalkeeper could be a good option REUTERS

In truth, Chelsea's need for such a player goes beyond injuries. They could just do with that bit more zip, that bit more fantasy to complement Hazard. It may also, however, go beyond this window.