• Transfer News

Mourinho seeking that 'killer' striker

Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea's incoming "killer" striker will open the floodgates after another missed opportunity put paid to his side's Premier League title hopes.

Mourinho has long lamented his toiling strikers' troubles in front of goal and indicated his desire to land a prolific goalscorer next term, with Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa reportedly the number one target and the possibility of Fernando Torres returning to his former club in part-exchange.

As well as helping Chelsea match their formidable record against the Premier League's elite, the new forward will be expected to rough up also-rans like Norwich, whose 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday saw Chelsea concede further ground to title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

Improve or leave

Jose Mourinho has not been happy with his strikers all season © Getty Images

• Jose Mourinho has issued a stark warning to Chelsea trio Oscar, Eden Hazard and Andre Schurrle to shape up or ship out, with one of the stars expected to leave the club this summer.
• Click here to continue reading

"Against the teams that are more defensive, more aggressive, more worried about trying to keep a clean sheet than really to play, we keep saying the same," Mourinho told Chelsea TV.

"We have good players, but we don't have the kind of striker able to, in a short space, to make an action, to score a goal, to open the gate.

"In these kind of matches you just need to open the gate. When you open the gate, the gate is open and you go win much more. We weren't able to do that.

"We have to try to win as a team, to improve as a team, but also add the attacking player with that killer instinct and the number of goals that push teams to different levels.

"It's something our club is going to try [to do], respecting obviously that we have good strikers.''

Chelsea beat City twice, Liverpool twice, took four points from matches with Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham and Manchester United, but recent defeats to Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and the draw with Norwich have proved costly.

"It's much more difficult to get results against the big teams," Mourinho added.

"Mentally you have to be stronger, by the strategic point of view you have to be stronger too.

"When we have that amazing record against the top teams, I think it's a fantastic achievement and a good base to start next season."

Chelsea's home record reads played 19, won 15, drawn three, lost one, the controversial loss to Sunderland which saw Mourinho relinquish his 77-match unbeaten league record at home.

"If you forget the Sunderland festival, because for me it was not a football game, it was a festival, the (home) record was good," Mourinho said.

"We lost six points at home, with three draws, which is still a good record.

"The matches with the top teams the record is really amazing, difficult to repeat next season even if, like we expect, we are stronger."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd